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…
Read MoreLiving Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation FAQs about End of Life Care and the Law in India – Addressing Common Concerns End of Life Care – A Ready Reckoner Advance Medical Directive and Healthcare Attorney Authorisation Document courtesy: ELICIT, Pallium India and Vidhi Center for Legal Policy
Read MoreSupreme Court Judgement copy: Advance Medical Directives (Living Will) and withdrawal of life support treatment A Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice K M Joseph has passed orders to making suitable amendments to the previous procedure regarding making an advance medical directive and withholding and withdrawing of life support treatment. This landmark judgement…
Read MoreWebinar on ‘Advance Medical Directives and withdrawal of life support treatment’, on 21st March, 2023 The webinar on ‘Advance Medical Directives and withdrawal of life support treatment’, was presented successfully on Tuesday, 21st March, 2023, between 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. A record 270 healthcare professionals from India and beyond participated in the interactive webinar.…
Read MoreThe Supreme Court of India eases the process for Advance Medical Directives (Living Will) and withdrawal of life support treatment! A Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice K M Joseph has passed orders to making suitable amendments to the previous procedure regarding making an advance medical directive and withholding and withdrawing of…
Read MoreWho Can Afford a Good Death? – Dr. Dhvani Mehta, New Delhi Lata Mangeshkar, a beloved national icon, passed away recently in an intensive care unit at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai. She had spent nearly a month in the hospital, and just before she died, was on a life-support machine that is ubiquitous…
Read MoreWhat is a Living Will? It is important for people to plan their future healthcare, especially at a time when they may no longer be able to make decisions or communicate these decisons. The “Living Will” will provide people the opportunity to think about, talk about and write down their wishes, preferences, priorities and refusals.…
Read MoreCharter of Patients’ Rights for adoption by NHRC Patients’ rights are Human rights! Preamble The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) emphasizes the fundamental dignity and equality of all human beings. Based on this concept, the notion of Patient Rights has been developed across the globe in the last few decades. There is a growing…
Read MoreImplementation of Supreme Court Judgment on Advance Medical Directives In keeping with the right to Privacy the Supreme Court has delivered a landmark judgment for patients facing terminal illness. Such patients and their families are often subjected to unwanted medical interventions that serve only to render the dying process agonizing. Medical ethics and standards in…
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