Palliative care for Hindus.

This article presents the chronology and significance of events that typically occur before and after death in the Hindu household. In the first section the authors concentrate on issues and consideration before death that are potentially of relevance to healthcare professionals providing terminal care. The section that follows aims to help healthcare professionals to understand the events that often occur in the immediate aftermath of death. It is hoped that this will help healthcare professionals provide holistic care for their patients.