Suffering transformed into acts of beauty

A Good Life by Jerry Pinto uses stories of patients, doctors and caregivers to raise awareness about inclusive approaches to medical care for those living with illness

- Chintan Girish Modi

A Good Life Jerry Pinto 272pp, ₹699, Juggernaut

Jerry Pinto’s books hit the market with such astonishing frequency that it is hard to keep up with his growing body of work. One marvels at his ability to bring profundity, humour and a loving gaze to whatever subject he touches, whether it be mental health, disability, caste, queer life or cinema.

His latest book, A Good Life: The Power of Palliative Care, is a powerful work of nonfiction that uses stories of patients, doctors and caregivers to raise awareness about “an inclusive approach to medical care for any serious illness, at any age, right from the moment of diagnosis”.

The thrust here is on care rather than cure because the latter is not possible in cases of this kind. Palliative care therefore focuses on enriching the quality of life with holistic support and helping people live “as pain free as possible” so that they can “find joy and peace”. Pinto busts the myth that palliative care is only for cancer patients, or for people who are close to the end. It is important to correct this idea as it prevents people from accessing what can benefit them.

This book seems like a ray of hope in a bleak scenario where endless tests, prolonged hospital stays and exorbitant costs have become commonplace, making people approach doctors with suspicion rather than trust as they feel that profits will be prioritised over patient welfare.

Etymology enthusiasts would be tickled to learn that “palliative” has roots in the Latin “pallium”, meaning “cloak”. Pinto notes, “It suggests the warmth and protection of such a garment. In its ordinary English sense, it means to make something better by making someone feel better.”