Medicine Beyond Pills: A dose of humanity – Ms Sneha P, Vallikkunnu, Kerala Until two years ago, my understanding of palliative care was limited to a brief notation in my nursing studies, and as a topic for a potential essay question. Occasionally, I’d see the palliative care vehicle of our panchayat passing by while I…
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What being a ‘caregiver’ taught me: A Doctor’s Perspective – Dr Parul Raina, Bengaluru Being a doctor and caring for patients is one side of the story. But what if you find yourself on the other side? When a ‘Doctor’ Becomes a ‘Caregiver’!! When your loved one is in a critical condition and you are…
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Is it Time to Revise Medical Ethics? – Dr Pratyasa Padhi, Bhubaneswar One afternoon, while visiting the medical oncology ward for palliative care consultations, I encountered a 45-year-old man with a bandage on his right lower limb, sitting on the bed alongside his wife. As I was about to see him, the ward attendant informed…
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Distress to de-stress: A journey – Dr. Ravi Kiran Pothamsetty, Madurai Mrs. Shanti (name changed for confidentiality), a 66-year-old female and a post-treated case of endometrial and ovarian carcinoma recently visited the Medical Oncology OPD with her daughter-in-law, exhibiting despair and mood turbulence. She was referred to the Palliative Care team. We introduced her our…
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Advancing the Law for Advance Medical Directives – Dr Dhvani Mehta, New Delhi The law is inextricably intertwined in relation to palliative care, especially in India, not always for the good. The law is misunderstood (“withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is euthanasia”), it is misinterpreted (“palliative sedation is illegal”), and it is misdirected (“discharging patients against medical…
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A transformative encounter My story with Sister Bindu – Anu Savio Thelly, Pondicherry In 2010, I crossed paths with Sister Bindu during a seemingly routine hospice visit, a syllabus requirement for my nursing education. That fleeting moment would profoundly impact my journey. I met her in the corridors of Karunashraya. As fellow Malayalis, our connection…
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Reflections from a Nurses Diary – Dr Kripa Angeline A and Dr Kingsle Kishore Coumar, Puducherry Our team of palliative care nurses cared for a 34-year-old female patient diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the stomach in 2023. Her journey was particularly complex, given her history as an Operation Theater assistant and her numerous medical challenges: she…
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Severe Mental Illness and Palliative Medicine – Dr Suhana Sulfiker, New Delhi A 50-year-old male, Vijay (name changed) with major depressive disorder had undergone various forms of psychotherapy and several trials of antidepressants and antipsychotic medications. He lives alone as he is separated from his wife. His children are married and live with their respective…
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Chef SM – Ms. Alpa Dharamshi, Bengaluru As a volunteer counselor, I regularly visit Karunashraya (Bangalore Hospice Trust), a hospice where patients often have only weeks, days, or even hours left to live. While one might expect such a place to be filled with despair and sadness, it’s surprisingly peaceful. When you enter the hospice,…
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A Pharmacist – A critical member of the palliative care team – Mr Fazle Noor Biswas, Bangladesh According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pharmacists along with physicians, nursing and other health professions, play an important role to alleviate total suffering and improve the quality of life of their patients and their caregivers. An estimated…
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