Supreme Court Upholds Right to Die with Dignity

Why in the News ?

The Supreme Court of India allowed withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) for a man in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) for 13 years, reaffirming the right to die with dignity and implementing the 2018 passive euthanasia guidelines.

Supreme Court Verdict in Harish Rana Case:

• The Supreme Court upheld the right to die with dignity for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man who had been in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) for nearly 13 years.
  

• The judgment was delivered by a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan.
  

• The Court permitted withdrawal of Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH), a form of life-sustaining treatment used to support patients who cannot eat or drink independently.
  

• Harish Rana had suffered severe head injuries and 100% quadriplegic disability after falling from the fourth floor of his residence in 2013.
  

•     The Court acknowledged the emotional burden on the family, describing the decision as an act of compassion and respect for the patient’s dignity.
  

Court’s Observations and Implementation of Guidelines

• This case marks the first time the Supreme Court implemented the 2018 Constitution Bench guidelines on passive euthanasia.
  

• The Court emphasised that withdrawal of life support must be accompanied by a structured and well-designed palliative care plan.
  

• It directed AIIMS, New Delhi, to shift the patient to its palliative care centre, ensuring medical supervision and compassionate care.
  

• Judges noted that the family had made extensive efforts for years to care for the patient, approaching the court only when the situation became irreversible.
  

•     The ruling highlighted that patient dignity, comfort, and humane care must remain the central considerations in end-of-life decisions.