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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From Pain to Possibility: The Role of Physiotherapy in Palliative Care – Mr Jarapla Srinivas Nayak, Bengaluru Physiotherapy in palliative care is centered on enhancing comfort and fostering independence. Unlike other healthcare settings focusing on full recovery, palliative care aims to manage symptoms, maintain mobility, and support the physical and emotional well-being of patients facing…
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Caring for the Caregivers – Ms Joshna Chatada, Mangalagiri “Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.” – Tia Walker I never truly understood the meaning of this statement, until I’ve had my share of experiences in the Palliative Care Unit while dealing with patients struggling with end of life diseases…
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Navigating Digital Legacy as a part of End-of-Life Care Planning – Mr Sachin Dwivedi, Rishikesh A person’s ‘digital legacy’ is the quantity of electronic data that one leaves behind on digital media and the internet upon their death. This could include one’s email accounts, websites, blogs, online chats, financial accounts, images, videos, online gaming profiles,…
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Palliative care in humanitarian settings – Dr Sunitha Daniel, York, United Kingdom ‘World Humanitarian Day’ is celebrated on August 19th each year as per the resolution passed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to commemorate the bomb attack that killed 22 humanitarian aid workers in Iraq in 2003. Each year, the campaign led by…
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Will you walk with me till death? – Ms Vandana Mahajan, New Delhi Aamir (Name changed) was 28 years old when I met him for the first time. It was a busy day at the OPD. I was talking to a few people when one of the doctors called out to me, “Can you please counsel…
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Challenges and Compassion in Palliative Care: Addressing Misconceptions and Cultural Dynamics – Palliative Care Nurse, Canada Persistent myths and misunderstandings surrounding palliative care present a poignant issue that profoundly impacts patient care and family dynamics. During my experience of providing end-of-life care to an immigrant from a marginalized community, I encountered a troubling situation related…
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