Ákos Márkovics, a nurse, responded to an online job vacancy and became the caregiver of Dániel Karsai, a Hungarian constitutional lawyer battling ALS. Ákos previously worked with elderly patients. He looked after the lawyer, who fought for the legalization of euthanasia in Hungary for a year and a half until his death on September 28, 2024. In addition to tending to Dániel’s physical needs, Ákos actively supported his public fight for the right to a dignified death.
The relationship between Ákos and Dániel went beyond the typical caregiver-patient dynamic. Ákos grew deeply fond of Dániel and his family. After moving from Siklós to the capital, the young man quickly felt as though he had gained a second family in Budapest. Reflecting on the time he had spent caring for Dániel, Ákos described it as the pinnacle of his nursing career and considers that time as a true gift.
From October 2023, I photographed Dániel Karsai's fight for the right to end his life until his death on 28 September 2024. After getting to know Ákos Márkovics, Dániel's carer, and following his work, his good relationship with Dániel, and the difficulties he faced in his work, I thought that his person was also worth presenting.