First time in India, euthanasia has been granted by the Supreme Court
- Active euthanasia is still banned in India
Who is Harish Rana?
Harish Rana is originally from Ghaziabad. In 2013, while a student at Punjab University, he fell from the fourth floor of a paying guest hostel, suffering a severe brain injury. Following the accident, doctors placed him on life support, and he has been bedridden ever since. Following the accident, Harish Rana entered a permanent vegetative state. He has suffered from 100% disability and quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs) for the past 13 years. He relied on a tracheostomy tube for breathing and a gastrojejunostomy tube for feeding. His daily care was entirely dependent on machines and medical assistance. Doctors’ reports indicated no improvement in his condition.
The Supreme Court stated in its judgment that when a person’s life is being prolonged solely by artificial means and there is no hope of recovery, they have the right to choose death with dignity. The court stated that maintaining life through life support systems in such a situation could be against the dignity of the individual.
What is passive euthanasia?
In legal terms, passive euthanasia means withholding or removing life-saving medications, treatments, or life support systems from a patient, allowing them to die naturally. This is different from active euthanasia, in which death is intentionally induced through an injection or medication. Active euthanasia is still banned in India.
What did the court say?
The court stated in its order that Harish Rana, once a promising 20-year-old student, suffered a severe brain injury after falling from the fourth floor and has been in a persistent vegetative state. Medical reports showed no signs of improvement over the past 13 years. Therefore, this decision was taken considering his condition.
