Date: March 12, 2026
Organised by: Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) in partnership with The Centre for Bioethics and CIHSR, Dimapur.
The Doctors Section of Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) successfully launched the first session of its new webinar series, "Understanding Practical Bioethics," focusing on the critical and sensitive topic of "Withdrawing and Withholding Life-Support."
A Timely Discussion in a Changing Legal Landscape
The session was hosted by Dr Abhijeet Sangma (Secretary, Doctors Section, CMAI), who opened the webinar by highlighting the historic shift in India’s legal landscape following recent Supreme Court rulings on passive euthanasia. In an era where the judiciary is urging the government for formal laws, the webinar served as a vital bridge between legal headlines and bedside clinical practice.
The session was moderated by Dr Roopa Verghese (Executive Director, Centre for Bioethics) and featured Dr Ashita Rebecca Singh (Head of Palliative Care, EHA) as the resource person.
Core Insights and Ethical Frameworks
Dr Ashita Singh guided the participants through the Johnson’s Four-Box Approach, a practical tool used to navigate ethical dilemmas by evaluating:
- Medical Indications: The facts of the diagnosis and prognosis.
- Quality of Life: Assessing the patient's state before and after potential interventions.
- Patient Preferences: Honouring autonomy and "substituted judgment" via family/surrogates.
- Contextual Issues: Understanding financial and social burdens without letting them override ethical priorities.
A key takeaway from the session was the clear distinction between withdrawing/withholding life support (allowing a natural death with dignity) and euthanasia (the intentional act of causing death). Dr. Ashita emphasized that withdrawing and withholding life support hold the same ethical standing and are aimed at minimizing futile suffering.
A Diverse and Participatory Audience
The webinar saw an impressive turnout with 160 participants joining from across the country. The audience represented a broad spectrum of the healthcare community:
- 50% Doctors
- 20% Nurses
- 30% Allied Health Professionals (AHP), Hospital Administrators, and Chaplains.
The session was highly participatory and interactive. Rather than a traditional lecture, the webinar utilized real-time polls and case studies (such as the scenarios of "Mr. Kumar" and "Mr. Ramesh") to engage the audience. Participants actively debated ethical choices in the chat box, reflecting on their own clinical experiences and the emotional weight of end-of-life decisions.
Looking Ahead
This session marks the beginning of a monthly series dedicated to empowering healthcare providers with ethical clarity.
The next webinar in this series will dive deeper into the Legal Aspects of Withdrawing and Withholding Life Support, featuring Dr. Ashita Singh and Advocate Siju Thomas of ADF India.
