Healing and dying with dignity: Debating palliative and end-of-life care | Sept. 2, 2016
Co-Organizer:
- Forum for Medical Ethics, Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, Mumbai
- Mahila Sarvangeen Utkarsh Mandal (MASUM), Pune
Venue: Firodia Auditorium, Deccan Education Society Law College, Fergusson College Campus, Pune
Synopsis: This discussion must be seen as part of the public debate on euthanasia was sparked off by the 42-year-long struggle of the nurse Aruna Shanbaug, who was in a persistent vegetative state after being brutally assaulted at her work place. The speakers focused on the complexities of the issue and the wide-ranging opinions and the socio-economic, religious & spiritual dimensions of the matter at hand. With the extremely inequitable distribution of health care facilities across the country, and with no assured access to palliative care a large number of patients and their families are left in tremendous distress in such situations. Emerging trends in technology relating to medicine offers increasing opportunities for prolonging life. However, the disparities in people’s capacity to pay for health care raise ethical issues for families as well as health care providers. On the other hand, there is an ongoing public campaign to promote organ donation after brain death. The Govt of India had put out a draft bill on passive euthanasia seeking comments from the public. In its current form the bill is simplistic & is silent on many critical areas. Therefore, there is an urgency of conversation both in academia and in the public domain from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Speakers: Dr. Shivkumar Iyer, Dr. Stephen Jayard, Dr. Harish Navale, Dr. Megha Deuskar
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