Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder. It is a congenital ciliopathy that has primary and secondary characteristics. Primary clinical features include rod-cone dystrophy, polydactyly, central obesity, genital abnormalities and mental retardation often presenting as learning difficulties. Secondary clinical features include developmental delay, speech deficit, brachydactyly/syndactyly, dental defects, ataxia, olfactory deficit, diabetes mellitus (DM) and congenital heart disease. BBS patients are friendly with a happy predisposition. Proper management, and regular examinations should be done in order to maintain healthy organ function and to avoid an early death. Renal failure is the most common cause of mortality in BBS patients.This case report illustrates the evaluation of a child with BBS, as well as the unique association of otolaryngologic symptoms and bronchopneumonia with it.

BackgroundA serene death may be achieved through skilled and compassionate care, as well as by the dying person's own sense of having lived a righteous life. The purpose of this study is to acquire information about students’ knowledge and understanding of euthanasia.Materials and MethodsFour hundred and fifty-six students from four classes of two institutions with similar demographic characteristics were included in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire adapted from a study of ‘Gruber, et al.’ was distributed among the respondents after obtaining a verbal informed consent. The questionnaire had two parts, first dealing with demographics of respondents, and in the second part students were given different situations and asked about their decision in that particular setting to understand their opinion about euthanasia.ResultsThere were 31.7% medical students and 12.9% non-medical students in favor to provide complete medical information (p < 0.001) while 59.2% non-medical students thought that complete information should be given to a patient if any iatrogenic incident occurred. Same favored by 33.7% of medical students (p < 0.001). The majority of medical students (84.5%) felt that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must always be provided (p < 0.001) and this was acceptable more among females (p = 0.001). Furthermore, medical students (57.6%) were more in favor of continuing maximum medical treatment including CPR than non-medical students (42.9%, p = 0.003). A total of 83% non-medical students and 46% medical students found euthanasia an acceptable practice.ConclusionResults show a significant difference in perception of medical and non-medical students regarding euthanasia. Non-medical students are more in favor of euthanasia than medical students. Also, it is observed that males seem to be more inclined towards euthanasia while females are more in favor to provide maximum medical treatment.

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