Karnataka Approves Dignified Death for Terminally Ill Patients

Karnataka Approves Dignified Death for Terminally Ill Patients

Karnataka has decided to allow terminally ill patients to die with dignity, in line with the Supreme Court's ruling that recognizes the right of such patients to end their lives with dignity. With this move, Karnataka becomes the second state, after Kerala, to implement this directive.

Supreme Court Ruling:

In the Common Cause vs. Union of India & Anr. (2018) case, the Supreme Court declared the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution and upheld the legality of passive euthanasia.

Euthanasia involves the deliberate ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering from a painful and incurable condition. In 2023, the Court further clarified directions on implementing advance medical directives for passive euthanasia.

Passive Euthanasia:

Passive euthanasia refers to the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment (LST) from terminally ill patients who are undergoing prolonged medical treatment with no hope of recovery and lack decision-making capacity.

In contrast, active euthanasia is the intentional act of ending a terminally ill patient’s life at their request, which remains illegal in India.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also released draft “Guidelines for Withdrawal of Life Support in Terminally Ill Patients” (details in the box).

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