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Code Krishna: an innovative practice respecting death, dying and
beyond

Dr. Bhalendu Vaishnav, Dr. Somashekhar Nimbalkar, Sandeep Desai,
Dr. Smruti Vaishnav

Abstract
In moments of grief, human beings seek solace and attempt to discover the meaning of life and death by
reaching out to wider and deeper dimensions of existence that stem from their religious, cultural and
spiritual beliefs. Conventional patient care fails to take cognisance of this vital aspect of our lives. Many
hold the view that life and its experiences do not end with death; the body is but a sheath which holds
the soul that inhabits it. The use of a protocol-based practice to create a solemn atmosphere around the
departed individual can bridge the gap between the materialistic and non-materialistic perceptions
of the dimensions of care. The innovative practice,“Code Krishna”, is aimed at institutionalising a
practice which sensitises and empowers the treating team to address the grief of the relatives of deceased
patients, and respect the departed in consonance with the family’s cultural, religious and spiritual
beliefs so as to see to the spiritual aspect of care. The practice entails the creation of a solemn atmosphere
amidst the action-packed environment of the critical care unit at the time of the patient’s death, offering
of collective prayer and floral tributes, and observation of silence both by the healthcare team and family
members. Code Krishna attempts to blend current care practices with spirituality, ensuring that the
treating team is the first to commiserate with the grieving family, with warmth and openness. In this
piece, we briefly report our first-hand experiences of practising Code Krishna in our hospital [Shree
Krishna Hospital, Karamsad, central Gujarat].

Introduction caring commitment to joint problem-solving
(1)”, has been considered an all-important
Death is the only predictable event in the obligation of physicians. It consists of providing
unpredictable course of human life. The extent continuity of expertise and a therapeutic
of suffering and fear that death entails is relationship, and facilitating closure of that
phenomenal. Though issues related to death therapeutic relationship (2). This response has
and dying are relevant to health professionals, been observed to be consistently inadequate
they are avoided. The typical non-abandonment across various specialties, although some
response, defined as “open-ended, long-term, differences do exist in attitudes towards

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