‘Kin need to be more pro-life’

While euthanasia is not legal, it’s often the only recourse of tired patients and drained family members.

Senior neurologists in the city say they sometimes encounter relatives who tell them to “go slow” and “not be very aggressive” in treatment to very senior patients.

A senior neurologist at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences explained, “We are asked what are the chances? Most doctors evade this question for a few days. If there is no improvement in the next two to three days, the relatives say the treatment must be slow. While this is taken in writing and also a video consent, the number is about one per cent of the in-patients.”

Doctors state that understanding of relatives helps them decide the case better.

Dr. Sujeet Ranjan, senior pulmonologist who also runs a palliative care centre, said: “In cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the patients come with breathing problems and often want to get back to stability. But the later stages make life difficult. If the family demands results, the situation becomes complex and tough to handle.”

Experts state that there are some who cannot tolerate the sight of tubes, catheters and other intensive care treatments, but there are many others who want their loved one fit-and-fine as soon as possible.

A senior doctor, seeking anonymity, explained, “Often relatives state that the patient walked in all hale and hearty and is now bed-ridden. They fail to comprehend that there were ailments within and those aggravated, which has led to this condition. When people are coming with multiple diseases and their diagnosis is done at the hospital, then allowing the person to walk back home is very difficult.

“This is often not explained by doctors who merely continue with various types of treatment till the body responds,” the doctor said.

It is only when there is no response that they ask relatives to take the patient away, which is often not taken well.