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India's Right to Die: Aruna's Legacy Lives On
11 Mar
Summary
- A nurse's brutal assault led to a landmark passive euthanasia ruling.
- She remained in a vegetative state for 38 years after the attack.
- Her case influenced India's 'right to die with dignity' recognition.
In 1973, nurse Aruna Shanbaug suffered a brutal sexual assault and choking at Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital, leaving her in a vegetative state for 38 years. This tragic event, which caused severe brain damage, inadvertently became the foundation for India's 'right to die' legal framework.
Shanbaug was found choked with a dog chain, leading to irreversible brain damage. Her case gained national attention through Pinki Virani's book, 'Aruna's Story,' which also filed a euthanasia plea on Shanbaug's behalf. While the attacker was convicted of attempted murder and robbery, he was not sentenced for rape.
In 2011, the Supreme Court legalized passive euthanasia, issuing guidelines for discontinuing life support. Although the plea for Shanbaug herself was rejected as the hospital staff wished for her to live, the judgment established a crucial legal precedent.
Later, in 2018, a Constitution Bench fully legalized passive euthanasia, recognizing the right to die with dignity and allowing for 'living wills.' This landmark decision came after years of legal battles and ethical discussions, profoundly shaping end-of-life care in India and recently influenced a ruling allowing passive euthanasia for Harish Rana.
