Harish Rana Euthanasia Case: Harish Rana of Ghaziabad has been living in a coma-like state for the past 13 years. Today, on March 11th, the Supreme Court granted Harish Rana permission to commit suicide. This is the first time in India that euthanasia has been granted. This decision was taken by a bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Vishwanathan.
Harish’s parents filed a euthanasia case for their son in the Supreme Court. You may be wondering what euthanasia is and when it can be sought. We will also explain the laws regarding euthanasia in India and who can grant permission. It is worth noting that euthanasia is legal in many countries around the world.
Harish Rana Euthanasia Case: What is euthanasia?
When a person has been suffering from unbearable pain or a serious illness for a long time, their family may request euthanasia to relieve them of that suffering. Euthanasia means intentionally ending a patient’s life to relieve ongoing suffering. This often involves stopping treatment, leading to a natural death. In some countries, under special circumstances, the process is completed by administering medication or injections. However, euthanasia is not fully legalized in India. There are strict Supreme Court guidelines, and implementing it is a complex process.
Types of Euthanasia: Two Types of Euthanasia
Euthanasia is generally performed in two ways.
- Active Euthanasia: In this, a patient suffering from unbearable pain is given a poisonous injection or a drug that causes death.
- Passive Euthanasia: In this, the patient is said to be removed from the ventilator or treatment is stopped. This results in a natural death within a few hours or days.
India Euthanasia Law: What is the law regarding euthanasia in India?
It has reached the Supreme Court. Several cases have arisen before, and the Supreme Court has delivered its verdicts on them. In the Aruna Shanbaug case, the Supreme Court refused to grant euthanasia on medical grounds, but by then it had become clear that euthanasia could be granted in the rarest of rare cases. Guidelines were also established for this purpose, stating that a writ petition could be filed in the High Court under Article 226.
If a person falls into a coma-like state for a long time and is kept alive on life support, a committee of three doctors can submit a report. The High Court can then decide whether passive euthanasia is appropriate. Only a person whose illness has become incurable or who is suffering immensely from it can apply for euthanasia, or their family.
Countries Where Euthanasia is Legal: Euthanasia is legal in these countries
- Belgium
- Colombia
- Canada
- Spain
- Ecuador
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- New Zealand
The conditions for euthanasia are largely the same in many countries around the world. Generally, it is permitted only after a medical team confirms the severity of the illness and all legal procedures are completed. The rationale behind this is that just as every person has the right to life, they should also have the right to die with dignity, so that they do not have to live a life of unbearable pain and suffering.
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