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Supreme Court Weighs Euthanasia in 11-Year Coma Case
19 Dec
Summary
- Supreme Court to decide on withdrawing life support after 11 years.
- AIIMS medical board finds no significant chance of recovery.
- Case may become India's first judicially sanctioned passive euthanasia.
The Supreme Court is poised to make a crucial decision regarding the withdrawal of life support for Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man in a vegetative state for over 11 years. Following a report from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) indicating a very low probability of recovery, the bench has scheduled January 13 for personal interaction with Rana's parents and siblings. This case could establish India's first judicially approved instance of passive euthanasia.
The AIIMS secondary medical board's report, submitted to the court, details Harish Rana's catastrophic head injuries sustained in 2013 and his subsequent decade-long dependence on clinical care. The report concludes that improvement in his condition is highly improbable, a finding that has brought the legal battle to a decisive stage. The court acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating it must eventually make a final call.
The legal proceedings stem from a prolonged struggle by Rana's family. Having exhausted all treatment options and faced with significant financial strain, his parents approached the Supreme Court seeking permission for passive euthanasia. The court's final order will be guided by the principle of the "best interests of the person," as directed by previous rulings on passive euthanasia, which has been legal in India since 2018.
