SC moves closer to first passive euthanasia nod

THE TOP COURT ORDERED AIIMS TO CONSTITUTE THE SECONDARY BOARD AND SUBMIT ITS REPORT BY DECEMBER 17, AND LISTED THE CASE ON THURSDAY NEXT

- Utkarsh Anand

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the constitution of a secondary medical board atthe All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), New Delhi, to examine whether life supportand treatment may be withdrawn from a 31-year-old man who has remained ina vegetative state for over a decade, in what may become India's first judicially sanctioned case of passive euthanasia.

Abench of justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan said it was “very, very unfortunate” that the man, who suffers from 100% disability quadriplegia, is surviving ina condition so “pathetic” that he has now developed severe bedsores, an indicator of prolonged neglectand irreversible deterioration.

“The boy seems to be in a pathetic condition. The bedsores are extremely painful... When a patient in a vegetative state suffers from bedsores, it means he is not being looked after well. His hygiene is poor. Bedsores are the end of everything,” the bench remarked during the hearing.

“Doctors have said in so many words that there is no question of recovery. So, he is to remain like this till he is destined to leave...We will have to do something now. We can't allow him to live like this. That's for sure,” it said.