At the age of 81, the former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren passed away on Monday 4th August morning. The founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was famously known as "guruji" and had been in the hospital for the past whole month. He had been suffering from a kidney-related ailment as well as a stroke. His son Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren confirmed the death in a social media post on X saying: “Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty.” We spoke to Dr. Raghavendra Ramanjulu, Lead Consultant in Aster CMI Hospital to understand the nuances of supported living. What Does It Mean To Be On Life Support? Life support is a variety of medical treatments that keep a person alive when their body can't function on its own. These treatments support or replace a failing body part until the body can recover. Dr. Ramanjulu explains “Doctors suggest life-support for a patient when the body is no longer able to perform essential functions on its own like breathing, maintaining blood pressure, or keeping the heart beating. This often occurs in extreme medical situations such as traumatic injuries, severe infections, heart attacks, strokes, or advanced stages of chronic illness.” Life support is a serious decision made after doctors have carefully checked the patient's condition and talked with their family. Sometimes it's used for a short time to give the body a chance to heal, while other times it's a bridge to making long-term decisions about care. It’s important to understand that being on life support doesn't mean a person is dying, but sometimes the body never fully recovers and needs continued support. When Is Life Support Started Or Stopped Entirely? Life support is started as soon as a person’s body needs it, but it won't be started if the person has already said no. This can be done verbally, in writing through legal documents, or by family members making the decision for them. Doctors will also not start life support if there is no medical benefit, such as when a treatment would only prolong suffering. You can be on life support for a long time. Doctors and family members may decide to stop it if there is little chance of a person having a meaningful recovery. It’s legally and ethically okay to end treatments that are no longer helping. It's crucial to remember that death is caused by the underlying illness, not by the decision to stop treatment. Life-Support Aren’t Permanent or Last Decisions Only Dr. Ramanjulu described an unforgettable experience about a young man who was put on life support after a severe accident. For days, his condition was very serious, and his family worried he wouldn't make it. The machines kept him alive while the doctors worked nonstop. Slowly, his body began to improve, and he eventually started breathing on his own without the ventilator. Watching him leave the ICU, sitting up and smiling, was a deeply moving moment for everyone. It was a powerful reminder that even in the toughest situations, the human body can surprise us with its will to survive and heal. What Organs Are Still Active on Life Support? Dr. Ramanjulu explains that when a person is on life support, some of their organs may still be working on their own, while others are being helped by machines. For example, a ventilator will breathe for the lungs, while the kidneys might still work partially. The brain might also remain active, depending on the injury. Life support doesn't mean the body has completely stopped working; it just means some vital systems are too weak to function without help. The medical team closely monitors which organs are active, as any sign of natural function offers hope for recovery. Common Types of Life Support Life support includes more than just ventilators. It covers any medical procedure that keeps the body running. Here are some of the different types: Mechanical Ventilation A machine called a ventilator helps you breathe by pushing air into your lungs through a tube. This is used for short-term problems or long-term if a person has irreversible breathing failure. ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) This is a more advanced machine that acts as your lungs, adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide directly from your blood before pumping it back into your body. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) CPR is a series of treatments like chest compressions and electric shocks used when a person's heart and breathing stop. It can be life-saving for sudden events but is rarely successful for those with a terminal illness. AED (Automated External Defibrillator) A portable device that delivers an electric shock to help a heart with an irregular rhythm return to normal. Artificial Nutrition and Hydration This involves giving a person nutrients and fluids through a tube. It can be life-saving until the body heals, but for long-term use with a terminal illness, it may not improve a person’s quality of life. Kidney Dialysis A machine that filters waste and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys are not working. For many, this improves their quality of life, but for others with a terminal condition, the burdens may outweigh the benefits.