Mumbai hospital launches 'Living Will Clinic' to let individuals plan future healthcare decisions

Mumbai, Jun 30 (PTI) A Mumbai-based private hospital has launched a dedicated clinic to help individuals make informed decisions about their future medical care in case of serious or unforeseen health circumstances.

P D Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre (MRC) in Mahim recently launched a 'Living Will Clinic' in what it said was the first of its kind initiative in the country.

Under the initiative, Hinduja Hospital said on Monday it will help patients in preparing legal documents that will enable individuals to outline their preferences for medical treatment in serious or unforeseen health circumstances, ensuring they retain control over future healthcare decisions.

The clinic will help individuals articulate and document their healthcare preferences through a legally recognised 'living will', ensuring their decisions are known and respected, even if they may be unable to communicate them later during their medical treatment, the hospital said in a statement.

"A living will can be made by anyone above the age of 18 years who wishes to receive medical treatment according to their preferences at a time when they are unable to make these decisions for themselves. It can be made by healthy individuals as well as individuals with chronic illness or a life- threatening disease," P D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre Consultant, Palliative Medicine, Dr Smriti Khanna told PTI.

However, she clarified that the document can be changed or even cancelled any time before it is implemented.

"You have to go through the same process of making the living will again (if cancelled) as you did previously. Each time you make a new living will, you must inform your medical team, family, (person holding) medical powers of attorney and also send a copy to the local authority (municipal corporation or panchayat as the case may be)," she maintained.

Another hospital functionary explained the initiative will help in cases where families are forced to make difficult decisions without knowing what their loved one (patients undergoing treatment) would have wanted.

"Our healthcare system currently lacks preparedness for situations where patients are unable to communicate for themselves. In such cases, families are forced to make difficult decisions without knowing what their loved one would have wanted. The Living Will Clinic helps individuals in taking charge of their decisions in advance by explaining their options, documenting their wishes, and designating someone they trust to take the right decision on their behalf," Hospital and MRC Section Head, Neurology, Dr Roop Gursahani, said.

According to a 2018 Supreme Court order, one should nominate at least two persons -- a family member, a trusted friend or colleague -- who can take healthcare decisions on behalf of the patient.

These nominees, above 18 years, will be consulted about health decisions when the living will gets implemented. They should understand the patients' wishes and preferences, and preferably should be geographically close to be able to reach the hospital soon in case of an emergency, said Khanna.

"Conversations around end-of-life care are difficult, but are an extremely essential part of advance care planning. We believe the living will process is at the core of personalised medicine as it allows individuals to reflect about what quality of life means to them and express their wishes clearly. Our goal at the clinic is to help people navigate through these decisions with sensitivity," she noted.

The launch of Living Will Clinic marks an important step in encouraging structured advance care planning in India, said the hospital.

"With the launch of India's first Living Will Clinic, we aim to empower individuals to take control of their future medical decisions with clarity and dignity. This clinic offers compassionate guidance to help people articulate their values and ensure those wishes are honoured, even when they cannot voice them. It is an extension of our commitment to a compassionate, ethical, and forward-thinking healthcare system," P D Hinduja Hospital and MRC CEO Gautam Khanna stated. PTI SM RSY