As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine, but it may not be the most natural option for those in pain. But, when Fif Fernandes and Hamish Boyd put their clown noses on, those in agony forget their pain and discomfiture. “As modern medical clowns, we look at creating hope and demystifying their suffering, through laughter”, says Fif, who runs the Komali Medi Clown (KMC) society at Auroville.
Engaging a room full of people of various ages with humorous gestures and games, the duo explained the process of providing therapeutic laughter to the worst-affected patients so as to get the best results by working together with the medical team.
The prospects of palliative care through therapeutic laughter and the right medication to provide relief to those suffering from chronic diseases were discussed at the meeting organised by the ‘What is Auroville’ festival in collaboration with the Lakshmi Palliative Care trust, and KMC, on Friday.
“There is often a misconception that palliative care should be given to only patients who are heading towards the terminal stage. Therapeutic laughter can increase one's immunity and help live longer”, said Mallika Tiruvadanan, specialist in palliative medicine, Lakshmi Sundaravadanan Hospital.
Medical professionals, social workers and psychology students from Ethiraj and Women’s Christian College were present.
The ‘medical clowns’ explained how laughter could be therapeutic and provide relief to those suffering from chronic diseases
