Context

On his last working day, former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud through his judgment granted the relief of 'passive euthanasia' to the parents of 30-year-old Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state for 13 years.

Passive Euthanasia

• It is a condition in which no active measures are taken to deliberately hasten a person's death, but existing treatments or life-saving measures are withdrawn.
• It usually occurs when a person is suffering from an incurable disease and the quality of life becomes very poor.

Legal status

• The legal status of euthanasia varies between countries.
• Some countries, such as Austria, Finland and Norway, explicitly permit it, while others prohibit it.
• In some countries, passive euthanasia may only be permitted under certain specific circumstances, such as when a person is suffering from an incurable disease and wishes to end their life.

Passive Euthanasia in India

• The legal status of passive euthanasia in India is unclear. Although there is no clear law that allows it, some courts have allowed passive euthanasia in certain cases.
• The Supreme Court of India legalized passive euthanasia in 2018, stating that it is a matter of 'living will'.
• In 2023, the Supreme Court in its judgment stated that attestation by a notary or a gazetted officer would be sufficient for a person to make a valid 'living will'. A judicial magistrate is not required to authenticate

Euthanasia in different countries

• Switzerland prohibits euthanasia but allows 'assisted dying' in the presence of a doctor or physician.
• Different states in the United States have different laws. Some states, such as Oregon and Montana, allow euthanasia and some do not.