Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia for Man in Coma for Over 12 Years

Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia for Man in Coma for Over 12 Years

The Supreme Court has allowed passive euthanasia for a 32-year-old man who has been in a comatose condition for over 12 years. This is the first-ever order allowing passive euthanasia in India. Passive euthanasia is the intentional act of letting a patient die by withholding or withdrawing life support or the treatment necessary to keep him alive. The court's order was made in the case of Harish Rana, a Ghaziabad native who has been in a coma since 2014. The court's decision was based on the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, which allows for passive euthanasia in certain circumstances. The court's order has been welcomed by medical experts, who say it will help to alleviate the suffering of patients who are in a persistent vegetative state.