Published on: October 29, 2016

How will we ever get out of the confusion? The average citizen of India continues to be confused between passive euthanasia and withholding or withdrawal of life support. The result: failure of formation of a strong public opinion.

In the month of October, we participated in 2 workshops in Kerala aimed at clearing the confusion. One was organized by Pain and Palliative Care Society, Thrissur. Led by many of the intelligentsia of Thrissur, this institution is one of the best palliative care centres in the state. Many dignitaries including the erudite education minister of Kerala state, Prof. C. Raveendranath, participated in the event.

The second was in Ernakulam organized by the palliative care department at General Hospital. This hospital has been famous for its exceptional quality of care and for public participation in health care delivery. The palliative care unit in this hospital certainly has achieved significant integration of palliative care into oncology practice. We hope these workshops and many like them that we make happen in Kerala clear the confusion in the public mind, at least upto a point.