Published on: March 1, 2023

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Dear Friends,

Now that the final judgement (2023) on end of life care from the Supreme Court of India is out, and now that a few weeks have passed, we ask, “What would it all mean anyway?”

Though the Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict validated advance medical directives (living will) and withdrawal of life-support, the Court put in such a procedural nightmare that in the 5 years to follow, not even one person in our country of 1.3 billion people could benefit from the verdict. Now some of the procedures are done away with – we no longer need the magistrate and district collector as part of the procedure; but many tangles remain. Two committees are still needed. The first has to give its report in 2 days, but no absolute time limit has been decided on for the second committee’s report.

And the verdict continues to refer “Allowing natural death” as passive euthanasia, a sad misnomer.

And in the meantime, in a prominent Delhi hospital, the body of a brain-dead parent of a doctor stayed on a ventilator for a whole week, because “withdrawal of life support was legally not permitted”. 

And most of us sit back in complacence, thinking it is all someone else’s problem.

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Manjuthulli 2023

Manjuthulli, Pallium India’s annual exhibition & sale of paintings and other arts & crafts is back. 

Purchase a beautiful painting to adorn your walls, and you will simultaneously be supporting patients and families who need palliative care. The aim of Manjuthulli is to raise funds for our patient care activities including free medicines, food-kits, educational support, rehabilitation and more.

Please join us!

Date: 2023 March 10, 11, 12

Venue: Museum Auditorium, Thiruvananthapuram.

Contact: 94962 84894 

Email: info@palliumindia.org

(Click on the image to enlarge)

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‘Walk with the Weary’ (2nd edition) released at IAPCON in Bengaluru

The new edition of ‘Walk with the Weary – Life Changing Lessons in Healthcare’ by Dr M R Rajagopal, published by Aleph Book Company, with a Foreword by Dr Shashi Tharoor MP, was released at IAPCON 2023, Bengaluru by Dr Nagesh Simha (Medical Director, Karunashraya Hospice) and Dr Sushma Bhatnagar (President of IAPC and the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre at AIIMS, New Delhi). Dr Seema Rao also spoke on the occasion.

This was followed by a book-signing by the author.

In Walk with the Weary: Life-changing Lessons in Healthcare, Dr Rajagopal knits his own experiences as a doctor with stories of the unique lives of his many patients, asserting that medicine can bring comfort and security to those at their most vulnerable and provide them the opportunity to not only live healthy lives but to die with dignity. Read more about the book.

Get your copy of “Walk With the Weary” here:

Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/Walk-Weary-Dr-M-Rajagopal/dp/9393852448

Aleph Book Company: https://www.alephbookcompany.com/book/walk-with-the-weary-life-changing-lessons-in-healthcare/

Flipkart: https://www.flipkart.com/walk-with-the-weary/p/itm681283c8fd982

If you have already read the book, please leave a review on the website or email it to us: info@palliumindia.org

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Awards presented at IAPCON

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Pallium India at IAPCON 2023

Ron Sangma, Regional Coordinator NE – State Facilitation, writes:

The theme of Indian Association of Palliative Care Conference (IAPCON 2023) held at Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 10-12 February 2023 was “Metamorphosis: The Emergence of Subspeciality Palliative Medicine”. It was a three-day workshop designed to raise awareness and further enhance palliative care to integrate in other medical speciality, with the inclusion of technology. A vivid example we heard from the speaker on the emergence and transformative advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) that may have the potential to help us accelerate our progress towards the work we do in palliative care and eventually augment our success but the stakes are high too. The use of AI tool comes with risks and potential for harm. AI to be used responsibly.

The last IAPC conference I had attended in person was in 2020. So I felt it was the right moment and a great platform for the facilitation team to attend the sessions, talk and meet the palliative care advocates and practitioners coming from across the globe. Indeed great learning, good connects and more new opportunities for the facilitation team to further take the cause of palliative care to our respective region.

Continue Reading >> https://palliumindia.org/2023/02/facilitation-team-at-iapcon-2023

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Pre-conference workshop for nurses, at IAPCON 2023

Dr A. Latha writes:

Nurses play a major role, and they are considered the backbone of the healthcare industry as they are skilled care providers and also patient advocates. Palliative care nurses provide an integrative and multidisciplinary approach to address patients’ physical, mental, social and spiritual concerns and aim to improve the quality of life of the patients. Hence these nurses need to acquire evidence-based advanced nursing skills to build their capacity and empower them.

Keeping these concepts in mind, we, the pan India palliative care nursing team, planned the Pre-conference Workshop with the theme of Augmenting Skills for Palliative Care Nurses at the 30th Annual International Conference (IAPCON 2023)of the Indian Association of Palliative Care held at Bengaluru, Karnataka, organised by Karunashraya. The main conference theme was Metamorphosis: The emergence of Subspeciality Palliative Medicine.

The pre-conference workshop was organised on 9 February 2023. The objective of the pre-conference was to comprehend the essential competency needed for palliative care nurses, was to enhance skills in ostomy care (colostomy and tracheostomy), master in caring for patients with lymphoedema, accurately calculate and administer pain medications, including morphine, to patients (morphine trial and subcutaneous infusions).

Continue Reading >> https://palliumindia.org/2023/02/pre-conference-workshop-nurses

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Video of the Month

Setting the House in Order – a practical conversation about financial planning to minimise suffering post bereavement

Speakers: M. Murali & S. Saravanan
Moderator: Smriti Rana

Some of the topics covered:
– Nomination
– Survivorship
– Will writing
– Estate Planning

Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVG-ltxL5i8

Subscribe to Pallium India’s youtube channel for videos related to palliative care and our activities. You can watch previous webinars and training sessions, as well as listen to caregivers, survivors and others sharing their experiences.

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Athulya Senior Care and Pallium India have collaborated to launch palliative care services in the organized senior care sector across South India 

The training of doctors, nursing staff, and other key members at all Athulya Senior Care centres will be provided by Pallium India, focusing on pain and symptom management, end-of-life care, and communication skills, among other essential areas. Dr. Sreedevi Warrier, Head of the Education and Skill-building division of Pallium India, said, “Our goal is to make Palliative Care accessible to all who need it. By working with Athulya Senior Care, we are bringing this critical service to senior citizens in South India and training the clinical team to provide the highest quality care.”

Read more in Deccan Herald: https://www.deccanherald.com/brandspot/pr-spot/athulya-senior-care-takes-a-bold-step-to-provide-palliative-care-services-for-seniors-in-south-india-1193046.html

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Palliative Care Unit launched at Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi

Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, a Fortis Network Hospital has launched palliative care services.

This palliative care unit has been set up in accordance with Pallium India’s guidelines, which aim to catalyse the development of effective pain relief and quality palliative care services & its integration across healthcare platforms.

Read more in Express Healthcare: https://www.expresshealthcare.in/news/hiranandani-hospital-launches-palliative-care-unit/438268/ 

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CAREERS / OPENINGS

For more openings across the country, visit our CAREERS page:
https://palliumindia.org/category/career

In case of queries, please write to us: career@palliumindia.org

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Contact us: info@palliumindia.org / 97467 45497

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Events / Courses

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The Cardiff University MSc in Palliative Medicine for Healthcare Professionals

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Check out upcoming events: https://palliumindia.org/events
Queries? Contact: info@palliumindia.org

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Follow us for palliative care news, views and updates – as & when they happen

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Nijjin’s first movie experience

Nijjin is 5. Recently he watched his first movie in a movie house at Travancore Mall, Trivandrum.

His dad lives with paraplegia and is currently a resident of Pallium India’s halfway home for people living with disabilities (PLWD). Our volunteer Rachel took the lead to give them a movie day today. With a meal at the food court to follow.

Halfway home & paraplegia as part of palliative care? Why, you ask?

Simply because a disability like paraplegia causes serious health-related suffering in a low or middle income country, of a magnitude that people in high income countries may hardly be able to wrap their heads around.

“How did you enjoy the movie, Nijjin?” we asked.

“Adipoleee” Nijjin responded, grinning from ear to ear. Meaning something like “super-duper-fantastic!”

This memory will stay with Nijjin and his parents for a long long time. A little to give; a treasure to receive! It just needed Rachel’s empathy to make it happen.

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SAHAYATRA

Sahayatra, Pallium India’s monthly print magazine in Malayalam, is meant for anyone interested in Palliative Care – patients, families, palliative care professionals, volunteers and well-wishers.

Yearly subscription rate for Sahayatra is ₹200. (Only ₹500 if you subscribe for three years.) However, we send Sahayatra free of cost to patients and their families.

To receive Sahayatra monthly magazine by post, please send your complete postal address to info@palliumindia.org. Contact: 97467 45504

Read previous issues of Sahayatra online: https://palliumindia.org/sahayatra

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PARTING SHOT

Salute to Brave Marjita

Parul Negi writes:

Marjita will always remain one of my favorite patients. I met this bubbly girl full of energy, during my rounds at the Deepsikha Arogya Bhawan in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Besides my role as a fund raiser, I try to interact with each of the patients and their caregivers in order to understand the physical, emotional and financial rollercoaster ride they go through, which drains them completely.

Marjita, a young, talented girl from Majauli, Assam, suffered from constant pain in her leg. This led to a series of tests at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, and she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in the year 2015. Even while undergoing the chemotherapy sessions, Marjita had the energy and will power to keep smiling and singing, and creating wonderful art work. I still treasure one of her creations, which she presented to me after the first successful round of treatment. We would celebrate our time with each other along with the parents and her younger brother. I would counsel her as well as her mother, who was trying to hide her stress with laughter for the sake of her loving daughter.

Continue Reading >> https://palliumindia.org/2023/02/salute-to-brave-marjita

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