Death with dignity

The right to death with dignity is no less important than the right to live. The recognition of an individual's right to exercise bodily autonomy is a sign of maturity in any evolved society. No doubt, in a country like India, making laws on euthanasia or assisted dying is fraught with several complexities.

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It does not, however, mean that such attempts should not be made. India should, in fact, take a cue from the United Kingdom, which recently approved the Assisted Dying Bill, a move that marks a major turning point in the country's approach to individual rights at the end of life.

After a long public debate, the British House of Commons passed the new legislation, granting terminally ill adults the legal right to choose the timing and manner of their death.

This is an issue that sits at the uneasy intersection of personal dignity, medical ethics, and societal responsibility. The final approval by the British Parliament suggests that society is slowly recognising the need to uphold dignity in death.