The Supreme on Thursday said passive euthanasia is permissible with guidelines.
“Human beings have the right to die with dignity,” said the apex court after allowing passive euthanasia.
In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court has allowed ‘living will’ but with strict guidelines. The top court has said the guidelines will remain effective till a law is in place.
A ‘living will’ is made by a person, in his normal state of mind, seeking voluntary euthanasia in case of terminal illness, if he or she reaches an irreversible vegetative state.
A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra passed the order allowing passive euthanasia with guidelines.
The top court pronounced the verdict on a plea seeking legal sanction for passive euthanasia under which a person suffering from a terminal disease and in his/her last stage of life with no chance of recovery is allowed not to sustain life through artificial support system.
The petitioner, NGO ‘Common Cause’, had approached the court seeking a direction for recognition of ‘living will’. The NGO contended that when a medical expert said that a person afflicted with terminal disease had reached a point of no return, then the person should be given the right to refuse being put on life support.
“How can a person be told that he/she does not have right to prevent torture on his body? Right to life includes right to die with dignity. A person cannot be forced to live on support of ventilator. Keeping a patient alive by artificial means against his/her wishes is an assault on his/her body,” the petition said.