In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has allowed passive (or partial) euthanasia for a 32-year-old man who has been in a vegetative state for the last 13 years.
A Supreme Court Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanatha passed the order on Wednesday on a petition filed by Ashok Rana seeking permission to end all life-sustaining treatment for his son Harish Rana and die.
Thirtytwo-year-old Harish Rana, a student of Punjab University, has been in coma since he fell from the fourth floor of a building where he lived in a paying guest accommodation, in 2013. Following the tragic fall, he was confined to bed and put on life support.
This is the first case of the top court’s directions in the Common Cause case being judicially applied to end the agony of a person in a vegetative state.
The two medical boards constituted by the court had already concluded that Harish Rana – the patient — had no chance of recovery.
The SC bench said, “If the family feels there is no difference in the patient’s condition, there is no point in continuing with such treatment and also make the patient suffer”.
The court said AIIMS shall grant admission to Rana, who is in palliative care, so that the medical treatment can be withdrawn. The court also said that it must be ensured the life support is withdrawn with a tailored plan so that dignity is maintained.
( With inputs from agencies)
