Supreme Court Weighs "Right to Die" Plea: 13-Year Struggle for Dignity
Supreme Court Weighs "Right to Die" Plea: 13-Year Struggle for Dignity
New Delhi, 15 Jan : The Supreme Court of India has reserved its judgment regarding a poignant petition filed by the father of Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man who has been in a vegetative state for nearly 13 years. Rana, a former Punjab University student, suffered severe head injuries in 2013 after a fall and has since remained bedridden on artificial life support.
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan heard the case, emphasizing the need for the family's decision to be both "consistent and well-considered" before authorizing the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. The judges recently met personally with Rana’s parents and younger brother, who expressed their deep anguish and desire to end his prolonged suffering, stating that medical intervention was no longer aiding him.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Rashmi Nandakumar, requested the court to use the terminology "withdrawing/withholding life-sustaining treatment" rather than "passive euthanasia" in its final order. Medical boards have reportedly concurred that there is no hope for recovery and that continuing treatment is not in the patient's best interest. This marks the second time the family has approached the apex court seeking relief for their son.
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