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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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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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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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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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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