“When I remember my mother, it makes me really sad. But, when I remember my father, it makes me smile,” said actor Nagarjuna, referring to the need to have fully-evolved palliative care treatment options for the terminally-ill.
On Friday, the actor turned emotional and while sharing the difficulties his family faced during the treatment of his mother Annapurna Akkineni and father late thespian Akkineni Nageswar Rao. He said terminally-ill patients should not be allowed to die in pain and their families should never undergo the trauma of looking on helplessly.
“I strongly feel the urge to talk about it and make others aware of the importance of palliative care. Despite being able to afford the best medical care, my mother endured a lot of pain for seven years due to various health complications. Not a single doctor told us that there was an option for palliative care,” he lamented.
The actor was the guest of honour at the inaugural International Conference of Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON-2015) in Hyderabad.
He said that palliative care eventually helped his family come to terms with the medical condition of Nageswar Rao.
“Luckily, in the final stages of my father’s life, we came across doctors practising palliative care here. The medical morphine and counselling sessions to our family members helped us. True to his nature, my father was smiling when he died,” he said.
Principal Secretary (Health and Medical) Suresh Chanda said it was society’s responsibility to provide a dignified life to terminally-ill patients. Director of Medical Education (DME), Telangana, Dr. Putta Srinivas, top palliative specialists from IAPC and other countries were present.
Luckily, in the final stages of my father’s life, we came across doctors practising palliative care. The medical morphine and counselling sessions helped. True to his nature, my father was smiling when he died
Akkineni Nagarjuna
actor