Visual Ethnography in an AIDS Hospice for the Socially Abandoned and Terminally Ill

Hospices for people with AIDS and neuropsychiatric complications present themselves as unique case studies of the institutional behavior of patients and caregivers, as well as the effective implementation of public health policy. Using a mix of visual ethnography and first-hand narratives, I explore the workings of a hospice, Philip AIDS Centre, in rural Gujarat, India, and the daily life of its residents. I also consider the ethics and challenges of photographing people with mental illnesses, drawing my examples from the popular media and photography, while mentioning their role in palliative care.