Home Institution
Pacific Lutheran University
Publication Date
Fall 2019
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to paralysis. The disease requires a high amount of medical intervention and interdisciplinary focus to achieve quality of life for patients. This study looks at ALS patient’s lifestyles, their access to these medical devices, Indian therapeutic approaches and policy that impacts patients in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. As caretakers have a critical part in the care for this disease, their lives were also considered in the case studies. It was found that ALS patients are not experiencing access to medical devices necessary for life because of physical accessibility barriers, financial barriers and a lack of knowledge about the disease. Knowledge of government healthcare financial policy and awareness of services offered by Asha Ek Hope to improve the access to these devices for ALS patients was not found in the study. Access to one of two pharmaceuticals was found to be achieved across the study group, however, the treatment methods for edaravone were inaccessible because of physical barriers and finances. With no known cure for the disease, the focus switches towards the Indian perspective on life and offering a death with dignity and comfort. It was found that ALS patients and their caregroups do not support passive euthanasia as determined by a 2018 Supreme Court decision while palliative care was found to be inexistent despite a dire need for this supportive care for families and patients living with ALS. The findings of this study shed light on the dire need for support of these patients in accessing devices and political advocacy. This study also brings public health awareness to the rare disease community in India—breaking down the public health and rare disease oxymoron.
Disciplines
Asian Studies | Family, Life Course, and Society | Health Communication | Health Policy | Medicine and Health | Nervous System Diseases | Neurology | Palliative Care | Social and Cultural Anthropology | South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies
Recommended Citation
Bergström, Carson J., "The Hapless State of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in India: A comprehensive look at life and medical services for ALS patients in rural Himachal Pradesh" (2019). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3207.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3207
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Health Communication Commons, Health Policy Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Nervous System Diseases Commons, Neurology Commons, Palliative Care Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies Commons
Program Name
India: Public Health, Gender, and Community Action