Legal Acceptance of Euthanasia in India

What is Euthanasia? Euthanasia usually involves withdrawal of treatment to terminally ill patients (called passive euthanasia), or active administration of certain drugs such as sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, etc. (called active euthanasia) to bring about a peaceful death to patients who may not be capable of living a normal healthy life ahead. Euthanasia debate The permissibility of euthanasia has been subject to constant ethical debate. Those in favour of euthanasia argued that having the autonomy to live life also includes the freedom to end it. Those against it argue that it is morally wrong to take away ones own life. In India, the Supreme Court had held that a person cannot end his own life in 1996. Active euthanasia, that is, where something is done to end a patients life, is not permitted in India it is a punishable offence as terminating a persons life can lead to charges of culpable homicide, murder or abetment to commit suicide under the Indian Penal Code. What happens when a patient is irretrievably heading towards death? Does a terminally ill patient have a right to die? In 2011, the Supreme Court has somewhat diluted its earlier stance in the case of Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug v. Union of India, by allowing withdrawal of medical assistance to patients in permanent vegetative state(PVS) under certain conditions. In such cases, withdrawal of medical assistance has been permitted by switching off lifesupport systems or by not carrying out a life-extending treatment. Permission is needed from the Chief Justice of the High Court. The High Court Bench shall simultaneously appoint a committee of doctors and listen to the consent of close relatives e.g. parents, spouse, brothers/sisters etc. of the patient, and in their absence his/her next friend, and supply a copy of the report of the appointed doctors committee to them. After hearing them, the High Court bench should give its verdict.