Palliative Care

Abstract

Hinduism is a religion that originated in India and is practiced in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Living with serious health-related suffering is one of the toughest transitions in life. Bridging evidence and emotion, the role of palliative care is pivotal in addressing this suffering and alleviating the physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual distress that accompany this suffering, in addition to supporting the caregiver. Hinduism recognizes the inherent dignity of human beings, acknowledging the intrinsic worth of human existence. In palliative care, the concept of dignity in addition to ideas of self-respect and self-worth encompasses an umbrella of terms like meaning/purpose in life, autonomy, physical comfort, spiritual comfort, interpersonal connectedness, belongingness, and courage in the face of impending death. Ethical dilemmas are commonplace, and training in palliative care reiterates that it is the intention behind the action, not the fruit of the action, that counts.