Supreme Court Takes Crucial Step in Landmark Euthanasia Case
The Supreme Court of India has taken a significant step in a heart-wrenching case involving a 32-year-old man who has been trapped in what doctors describe as a persistent vegetative state for twelve long years. In a hearing held on Wednesday, the apex court directed the District Hospital in Noida to immediately constitute a Primary Medical Board to evaluate whether life-sustaining medical treatment can be legally withdrawn from Harish Rana.
The bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan issued clear instructions that the medical board must submit its comprehensive report within two weeks. This development comes in response to a emotional plea filed by Ashok Rana, the distressed father who has been watching his son survive artificially for over a decade.
Medical Condition Deteriorating Despite Artificial Support
During the court proceedings, Advocate Rashmi Nandakumar, representing the petitioner, presented a grim picture of Harish Rana's current medical status. She informed the court that his condition has been consistently deteriorating and emphasized that the young man's survival depends entirely on a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube that provides him nutrition and hydration.
The legal counsel stressed that this is not a case seeking active euthanasia but rather falls under the category of passive euthanasia, where life-sustaining treatment can be lawfully withheld in accordance with the Supreme Court's landmark 2018 judgment. She pointed out that Harish suffers from 100% disability quadriplegia and shows no response to any medical treatment despite years of care.
Legal Framework and Historical Context
This case directly references the Supreme Court's groundbreaking 2018 decision by a five-judge Constitution bench that officially recognized passive euthanasia in India. The historic judgment established that an adult with mental capacity has the right to make an informed decision in advance to refuse medical treatment, including the withdrawal of life-support systems during terminal illness.
The court had also laid down specific conditions and safeguards for executing such living wills. In January 2023, the Supreme Court further modified these guidelines to make the process more practical and workable for real-world applications.
The bench acknowledged the factual accuracy of Harish's medical condition, noting that he has been artificially kept alive without any improvement in his health status throughout these twelve years. The court specifically referenced the 2018 judgment while directing the formation of the Primary Medical Board at District Hospital, Sector 39, Noida.
The Supreme Court Registry has been instructed to forward the official order to both the District Hospital and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to ensure immediate compliance. Once the medical board submits its findings, the court will proceed with further legal instructions in this sensitive matter that touches upon fundamental questions of life, dignity, and medical ethics.
