Passive Euthanasia verdict: Supreme court’s landmark decision embraced by people

The Supreme court, in what is a being considered a landmark decision, passed a judgement that would make it possible for people to opt for Passive Euthanasia, but with some guidelines that would have to be followed to achieve it. A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, passed the judgement. Humans have the right to die with dignity, the court said while laying down certain conditions, that people who are suffering with terminal diseases should make a living will, and if they’re unable to perform the function, that is, in coma or in vegetative state, then a close friend or family can approach the court which will then set up a medical board which is going to decide if the person needs passive euthanasia.

People on social media have come in immense support of the decision, stating that its encouraging for people who have to suffer pain, and don’t want to live any longer because prolonged illness that incurable or if they’re in an irreversible coma or vegetative state.

Patients, who had appealed to the court for achieving euthanasia have also commended the decision, saying that they can die with dignity and in peace rather than facing a lifetime of suffering.

Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug’s case was instrumental in bringing this change. Shanbaug was a nurse at King Edwards Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, where she was raped by the sweeper of the premises while she was changing her clothes. She was left in a permanent vegetative state because she had been assaulted with a dog chain tied to her neck, which blocked the oxygen to travel to her brain, causing an irreversible change to her life. Pinky Virani, a journalist, had filed a petition to end Aruna’s life support through euthanasia and end her suffering, but the court refused because she wasn’t brain dead. However, her case has helped understand the decision immensely.