BY A STAFF REPORTER
NORWALK, CA - A unique, practical and much needed program was held by Joys of Sharing Foundation on Dec 15 at Sanatan Dharma Temple here with close to around 200 in attendance. The program started off with prayer and a few songs by Smita Das and Raj Upadhyay. They set the stage for a never before topic of discussion by...
NORWALK, CA - A unique, practical and much needed program was held by Joys of Sharing Foundation on Dec 15 at Sanatan Dharma Temple here with close to around 200 in attendance. The program started off with prayer and a few songs by Smita Das and Raj Upadhyay. They set the stage for a never before topic of discussion by...
Dr. Nitin Shah, Professor of anesthesiology and critical care at Loma Linda University who gave an incredible presentation on the end of life ` Leaving this World .’ He shared many real life examples and was funny at times and kept the audience spell bound for over an hour.
Starting off he said “We Americans refuse to accept death.”In England he said there are two court cases going on between two hospitals and the families. Healthcare professionals said the patients were brain dead and chances of their recovery were almost nil while the family wanted them to continue on life support and wait for miracles! The objective was for participants to sign up for Advanced Healthcare Directive if not done before. Shah had emailed a simple form to all to sign either before or on the day of the presentation. When he asked the audience almost half had already planned and had chosen the relative who would make decisions on their behalf about life sustaining treatments in case they became incapacitated. This is an issue which is very significant in the present era as medical science has many options available, thanks to new technology to keep patients alive. Healthcare professionals will offer aggressive treatment to all and it will really depend upon people to choose what is best for them or their loved ones. Shah gave examples of people who had accepted to leave this world because of their underlying diseases ahead of medical professionals by practicing “modified sallekhana”. Sallekhana is a Jain concept of accepting end of life. The way one practices is when the person thinks that he has done his duties, does not have any more responsibility, they will start by giving up solids, then liquids and finally stop taking water till passing away.While when one develops a disease and if one refuses available treatment then the person practices `modified sallekhana.’ Before the program, all guests enjoyed dinner which was sponsored by Sarva Mangal Family Trust. Smita Das and Raj Upadhyay continued to entertain the audience until late evening.
Starting off he said “We Americans refuse to accept death.”In England he said there are two court cases going on between two hospitals and the families. Healthcare professionals said the patients were brain dead and chances of their recovery were almost nil while the family wanted them to continue on life support and wait for miracles! The objective was for participants to sign up for Advanced Healthcare Directive if not done before. Shah had emailed a simple form to all to sign either before or on the day of the presentation. When he asked the audience almost half had already planned and had chosen the relative who would make decisions on their behalf about life sustaining treatments in case they became incapacitated. This is an issue which is very significant in the present era as medical science has many options available, thanks to new technology to keep patients alive. Healthcare professionals will offer aggressive treatment to all and it will really depend upon people to choose what is best for them or their loved ones. Shah gave examples of people who had accepted to leave this world because of their underlying diseases ahead of medical professionals by practicing “modified sallekhana”. Sallekhana is a Jain concept of accepting end of life. The way one practices is when the person thinks that he has done his duties, does not have any more responsibility, they will start by giving up solids, then liquids and finally stop taking water till passing away.While when one develops a disease and if one refuses available treatment then the person practices `modified sallekhana.’ Before the program, all guests enjoyed dinner which was sponsored by Sarva Mangal Family Trust. Smita Das and Raj Upadhyay continued to entertain the audience until late evening.
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