Supreme Court Upholds Right to Die with Dignity: A Landmark Euthanasia Move

The Supreme Court has set a significant precedent by allowing passive euthanasia, marking the first time such an order has been sanctioned in India. The case involves 32-year-old Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state for more than a decade after suffering head injuries.

The court's directive permits the withdrawal of life support in accordance with its 2018 Common Cause judgment, recently updated in 2023. This aligns with the constitutional right to die with dignity under Article 21.

The court involved AIIMS-Delhi for expert opinions, confirming the chronic unresponsive state of the patient, with a negligible prospect of recovery, ensuring all actions are taken with dignity and accordance to medical guidelines.