{"id":56250,"date":"2025-10-07T21:06:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T15:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=56250"},"modified":"2025-10-08T12:05:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T06:35:16","slug":"passive-euthanasia-reforms-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/07-10-2025\/passive-euthanasia-reforms-india","title":{"rendered":"Reforming Passive Euthanasia in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity and Governance; GS4\/Ethics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Despite the legal validity of passive euthanasia, its implementation remains mired in <strong>procedural complexity, institutional gaps, and ethical ambiguity.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Euthanasia in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Euthanasia \u2014 often termed \u2018mercy killing\u2019 \u2014 refers to the intentional ending of a person\u2019s life to relieve suffering, usually from terminal illness or irreversible conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Passive Euthanasia:<\/strong> Involves withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (e.g., ventilators, feeding tubes) when recovery is medically impossible. It is legal under specific safeguards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Active Euthanasia:<\/strong> Involves administering a lethal substance to end life. It remains <strong>illegal under Section 103, 105<\/strong> of<strong> Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),<\/strong> and physician-assisted suicide is punishable under <strong>Section 108 of the BNS.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Legal Milestones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011): It permitted passive euthanasia under strict guidelines<\/strong>, distinguishing it from active euthanasia and emphasized that withdrawing life support in cases of irreversible coma was <strong>not equivalent to killing.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Common Cause v. Union of India (2018): <\/strong>The <strong>Supreme Court<\/strong> recognized the <strong>\u2018Right to Die with Dignity\u2019<\/strong> as a fundamental right under <strong>Article 21<\/strong> of the Constitution.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It legalized <strong>living wills<\/strong>, allowing individuals to express their medical preferences in advance should they fall into an irreversible vegetative state.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Medical and Institutional Perspectives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)<\/strong> issued<strong> ethical guidelines<\/strong> emphasizing the role of palliative care and patient autonomy.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It underscored that while medical technology can prolong life, it cannot guarantee dignity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It advocated for institutional ethics committees to ensure compassionate end-of-life care decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government Guidelines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Constitution of Primary and Secondary Medical Boards with experienced physicians;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verification of advance directives, ideally linked to Aadhaar for biometric validation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ethical oversight by hospital committees;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A 48-hour window for decision-making to avoid prolonged suffering.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ethical and Cultural Dimensions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hinduism<\/strong> emphasizes <em>ahimsa<\/em> (non-violence) but also accepts <strong><em>prayopavesa<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u2014a form of fasting unto death<\/strong> under spiritual discipline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jainism<\/strong> permits <strong><em>Sallekhana<\/em><\/strong>, a voluntary death through fasting, under specific religious conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Islam and Christianity<\/strong> generally oppose euthanasia, seeing life as sacred and only terminable by divine will.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Family-centric Decision-making:<\/strong> In many cases, families play a central role in end-of-life choices, complicating the implementation of individual autonomy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Healthcare Disparities:<\/strong> Limited access to palliative care and uneven medical infrastructure make ethical euthanasia difficult to administer uniformly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Comparative Perspective<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada permit euthanasia under regulated conditions, balancing individual autonomy and medical ethics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UK Model: <\/strong>In June 2025, the <strong>UK\u2019s House of Commons<\/strong> passed the <strong>Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill<\/strong>, permitting <strong>physician-assisted dying<\/strong> for mentally competent adults expected to live fewer than six months, with stringent medical certification and oversight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It reflects a growing global trend toward granting individuals greater autonomy over end-of-life decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why the UK Model Doesn\u2019t Fit India?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The UK\u2019s approach depends on <strong>robust institutional support<\/strong> \u2014 a strong <strong>National Health Service<\/strong>, <strong>universal access to general practitioners<\/strong>, and <strong>trustworthy regulatory mechanisms<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In contrast, India\u2019s healthcare system is <strong>fragmented and under-resourced<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social realities further complicate matters: <strong>deep family involvement<\/strong>, <strong>religious sensitivities<\/strong>, and <strong>economic dependency<\/strong> could turn active euthanasia into an instrument of subtle coercion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The elderly, disabled, or financially burdened might feel pressured to choose death to relieve their families.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Refining the Passive Euthanasia Framework<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Digital Advance Directives: <\/strong>Create a <strong>national digital portal<\/strong> linked to Aadhaar for registering, updating, or revoking advance directives.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Physicians should verify <strong>mental competence and intent<\/strong> through the same platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hospital-Based Ethics Committees: <\/strong>Establish committees comprising senior doctors, a palliative care specialist, and an independent member.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Authorise withdrawal of life support within <strong>48 hours<\/strong>, with exceptional cases referred for higher review.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Decentralised Oversight: <\/strong>Replace ineffective ombudsman systems with <strong>transparent hospital networks<\/strong> monitored via <strong>digital dashboards<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Empower <strong>independent medical auditors<\/strong> or <strong>health commissioners<\/strong> with statutory authority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safeguards Against Misuse: <\/strong>Retain a <strong>seven-day cooling-off period<\/strong>, <strong>mandatory counselling<\/strong>, and <strong>palliative care review<\/strong> to ensure fully informed and voluntary decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Building a Culture of Dignified Dying: Public trust and awareness<\/strong> are essential, to make euthanasia laws meaningful. The way forward includes:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Integrating <strong>end-of-life care ethics<\/strong> into <strong>medical education<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Launching <strong>public campaigns<\/strong> to normalise advance care planning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensuring <strong>accessible palliative care<\/strong> across the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s <strong>constitutional promise of dignity<\/strong> needs to encompass both living and dying and it can uphold its <strong>moral and legal integrity<\/strong> while easing the suffering of those at life\u2019s end, by reforming passive euthanasia through <strong>digitally driven, transparent, and compassionate mechanisms.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/reforming-passive-euthanasia-in-india\/article70131004.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Despite the legal validity of passive euthanasia, its implementation remains mired in procedural complexity, institutional gaps, and ethical ambiguity.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>About Euthanasia in India<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Euthanasia \u2014 often termed \u2018mercy killing\u2019 \u2014 refers to the intentional ending of a person\u2019s life to relieve suffering, usually from terminal illness or irreversible conditions.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Passive Euthanasia: Involves withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (e.g., ventilators, feeding tubes) when recovery is medically impossible. It is legal under specific safeguards.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Active Euthanasia: Involves administering a lethal substance to end life. It remains illegal under Section 103, 105 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and physician-assisted suicide is punishable under Section 108 of the BNS.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/07-10-2025\/passive-euthanasia-reforms-india\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56250"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56273,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56250\/revisions\/56273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}