Which treatments are exempt?

T. Banusekar

Three months ago, I had spent Rs 32,000 towards the laser surgery of my father’s eyes. Will the amount spent by me towards the laser surgery be eligible for deduction under Section 80DDB or under any other Section? — Komaravel K.

Section 80DDB allows a deduction to a resident individual if he incurs expenditure on medial treatment of a disease or an ailment specified by the board if the treatment is for himself or a dependent of his. The deduction will be the amount actually incurred or Rs 40,000 whichever is less (Rs 60,000 if the patient is a senior citizen).

National Hospital of Iceland Breaks Language Barriers

The National Hospital of Iceland (LSH) has begun using a 38-page picture book to ease communication between staff and patients where language and/or physical condition hinders patients from expressing their wishes.

“It is thought of as a tool for reaching those who have difficulties expressing themselves or do not understand what we tell them,” teaching and educational nurse at LSH Inga Teitsdóttir told Morgunbladid.

“They may be patients on respirators, people who suffer from nervous diseases that cause aphasia […], or belong to the growing group of patients of foreign origin who don’t speak Icelandic or any language that we speak,” Teitsdóttir said.

(Video) Rare disease robs patients of language

CHAPEL HILL (WTVD) -- Mary Boyles is a retired English professor who must live with the reality of knowing she's suffering from a disease that is eventually going to make her mute.

"If I could just take off a leg or arm or both, that would be much better for me," said Boyles.

Throughout her life, words have been Mary's love. She built her career around words as a retired UNC Pembroke professor with a PhD in American Literature. It took doctors almost four years to diagnose, but, in 2002, words became Mary's greatest pain.

"It's just not, not," Boyles pauses to find the words. "It's not fair for me."

Mary's diagnosis is primary progressive aphasia, or PPA, a rare neurological disorder that's slowly robbing her of her language function. She also believes the same disease robbed her mother of the ability to speak. "She stopped talking," said Boyles. "She just stopped one day. And, I know what it's going to do. That I can't talk but I can listen."
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