The ruling government has rejected the recommendations of Law commission to allow terminally ill patients to choose death to end their suffering. Attorney general G.E. Vahanvati has told the Supreme Court of India on 1^st March 2011 that western considerations hardly apply to Indian conditions and culture. In the case of Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug in the background, who is terminally ill and confined to bed in King Edward medical college in Mumbai for the last 37 years, the AG argued before Justices Markendey Katju and Gyanshudha Mishra against allowing a euthanasia plea for her. The special bench of judges will pronounce the verdict on plea on 7^th of March 2011.

The Law commission has recommended the government to allow euthanasia to persons, who are unable to take normal care of their bodies and have lost all their senses and earnestly seek death to end their suffering. The AG disagreed on the ground that India is a country where people are poorer but have strong emotions towards their lives. They would tend to end their lives because of suffering due to poverty. The relatives of the terminally ill person will take advantage of the law to grab the property of the patient. The bench of judges agreed with the views of AG and observed that with social relationships eroding, the people would misuse euthanasia in collusion with doctors. The AG also argued that if the patient was uncared for and abandoned by the relatives, the state should step in to take care of the person.

“Euthanasia” meaning a good death in Greek is popularly described now-a-days as mercy killing. It has long been considered a taboo in India, although it is practiced in many western countries under the supervision and assistance from a doctor.

The Supreme Court in India saw the movie on Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug.  The bench of judges along with lawyers was present in the court room while the short film was screened. They saw Aruna, the terminally ill patient in the movie shouting at people where she the crowd in her room. Again she calmed down while being offered mashed food. She cried and shouted when doctors examined her but again calmed down when the devotional music was played before her. Hush fell for ten minutes when the screening of the film was taking place.

Everyone expressed surprise to see the terminally ill patient not in a coma but alive and taking food.