Advance Medical Directive and an Upcoming Webinar
In 2018, the Supreme Court of India, in Common Cause v Union of India, recognised that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right protected by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The Supreme Court laid down guidelines for different actions related to care and medical treatment at the end-of-life.
Any person above the age of 18 can make an Advance Medical Directive or Living Will to plan for a time in the future when they might no longer be able to take decisions about their healthcare.
An Advance Care Planning Taskforce was convened in February 2024, bringing together a group of people under the aegis of the Indian Association for Palliative Care. This group has begun working on a nationwide campaign to improve death literacy through a multi-pronged approach targeting multiple stakeholders – policymakers, professionals and the public.
To this end, the Vidhi Center for Legal Policy has created three crucial documents:
- FAQs about End-of-Life Care and the Law in India – Addressing Common Concerns
- End-of-Life Care – A Ready Reckoner
- An updated template of the Advance Medical Directive and Healthcare Attorney Authorisation
Please visit Pallium India’s webpage: Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation
or IAPC’s webpage: Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation
to know more. In case of queries, please write to us: info@palliumindia.org
Smriti Rana, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief at the Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (the flagship demonstration program of Pallium India) and member of the Task Force, was invited to conduct an awareness program in the Nilgiris. Hosted by the Coonoor Club, this 90-minute event saw 75+ community members in attendance. It was a very interactive session where audience members were made aware of Palliative Care and the importance of Advance Care Planning, and were taken through the latest Advance Medical Directives document.
The information was warmly received, with many pledging to start working on their Living Wills and initiating conversations within their own families.
Several such activities are in the offing, including an online webinar initiated by the Model Palliative Care Division at the Government Medical College, Kollam. The webinar is being hosted by Pallium India and is supported by the Indian Association of Palliative Care.
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