In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed passive euthanasia of Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man who remained in a permanent comatose state for over 13 years after falling from a building.
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A bench of Justices JP Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan allowed the withdrawal of artificial life support, citing medical reports that showed Rana suffered a serious brain injury in 2013 when he fell from the fourth floor of his paid guest accommodation, and had been in an irreversible coma ever since, surviving only with clinically managed nutrition provided through feeding tubes.
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The court said that the medical boards had concluded that continued treatment only served to prolong biological existence without any possibility of recovery. The court also directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to shift Rana to a palliative care center and supervise withdrawal of life support in a dignified manner.
The following are the court’s most important quotes from this landmark ruling:
The most important quotes from the ruling
- “Harish Rana…was once a bright young boy.” The court noted that his fall from the fourth floor of his residence left him in a persistent coma with severe paralysis, according to LiveLaw.
- “If medical treatment does not make any difference, there is no point in continuing with this treatment and making Harish suffer without good reason,” the bench said.
- “Continuing treatment only prolongs its biological existence without any therapeutic improvement.”
- “When primary and secondary medical boards approve withdrawal of life support, there is no need for court intervention,” the bench said, according to PTI.
- “Life support must be withdrawn in a humane and dignified manner,” the court said and asked AIIMS to implement a customized plan through palliative care.
- “To be or not to be…” Justice Pardiwala referred to Shakespeare’s famous line while discussing the right to die with dignity, news agency ANI reported.
- “His family never left his side… Loving someone means taking care of them even in the darkest times,” Bunch added, praising Rana’s parents for their dedication and care.
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While the court granted relief in Rana’s case, it also urged the Union government to consider introducing comprehensive legislation on passive euthanasia.
(With agency inputs)
