Need to Legalize Euthanasia in India….?

Pinki Virani’s plea for mercy killing and the subsequent rejection of it by the apex court have once again brought euthanasia to lime light.  The petitioner had claimed Aruna Shanbaug was living in a vegetative state since November 27,1973, following a brutal sexual assault and her right to live with dignity had been compromised ever since her comatose condition.  The two-bench of justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra dismissed the petition filed on behalf of Aruna while observing that “passive euthanasia is permissible under supervision of law in exceptional circumstances but active euthanasia is not permitted under the law.”  Moreover, the court clearly indicted the need for us to have our own law on euthanasia. Euthanasia is the practice of helping severely-ill people die. To put into practice in our country, whether it is passive euthanasia or active euthanasia needs a lot of preparation.

While developed nations found it easy to implement “Death with Dignity” law, a country like us which is of multi religious and the land of all diversities may not take any law on euthanasia simply. For that we need to begin concrete discussions and dialogues on this issue. The parliament should take the lead and let the country know what our politicians think and feel about it.  Once a consensus is developed among them, they can open channels for discussions with religious bodies to allay their fears and concerns. Despite the much advancement we have made in medical science, doctor-patient relations are still at a level we have nothing to be proud off. So, once the law is passed and when it comes for implementation, this miserable patient -doctor relation will pose further hurdles. How a patient or his family will receive or interpret when his doctor suggests mercy killing for the patient?   If both parties do not take things professionally, it will further complicate the already strained doctor-patient relationships. To avoid, this we need the best awareness among the parties concerned. Another point of concern is the possibility of misuse of the law by vicious groups to eliminate somebody to settle disputes in their favor over money, property etc. Here the services of the best watch dogs are required to keep out the greedy and corrupt elements.

Life and pain go together. But when it comes to point, where there is only pain, no life, a legalized euthanasia will be a great relief for them, but to reach that point we have to overcome many hurdles.  Our society may not be fully matured enough to have a law justifying euthanasia, however, there is no problem in starting a discussion on this, and that is why we should appreciate Pinki Varani for taking the issue in the right perspective.

Prathap MR

(Author is a freelance writer and an employee of Technopark)