The Supreme Court of India has now given its consent for mercy killing. The apex court made its historical judgment by allowing withdrawal of life saving drugs and life supporting systems for the patients who are clinically dead or brain dead and in a vegetative condition. Such patients about whom the docs have lost hope of reviving them even under most advanced medical systems.
The topmost institution in the legal echelon of
The Supreme Court has said that the eligibility criteria for final decision on a passive euthanasia would be a high court bench with two experienced judges. The court would look in to all the bona-fides of such case. The judges in the apex court also said besides examining the medical facts of the case, the court would also seek the consent of close relatives, parents, and friends of the terminally ill patient.
However the judges have maintained that the deciding court would see to the presence of unscrupulous relatives, who want passive euthanasia for their terminally ill relative just to grab his property. The court would also seek the possibility of any future recovery of the terminally ill patient.
However taking decision on euthanasia is a perplexing task for the Indian courts. Only difference between active and passive euthanasia is in the passive mercy killing, the doctors do not resort to killing the patient through active ways .Especially the case would be considered active if the patient is in an active shape and capable of making movements and talks.
SRIKANT MOHANTY
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