Best interest of patient is paramount: Key takeaways from Supreme Court's euthanasia verdict
India Today
The Supreme Court, allowing withdrawal of life support for a 32-year-old man who has remained in a vegetative state for 13 years, ruled that continuing treatment with no hope of recovery was not in the patient's best interest.
In a landmark judgment on Wednesday, the Supreme Court permitted the withdrawal of life support for a 32-year-old man who has been in a permanent vegetative state for over 13 years, paving the way for passive euthanasia in the case. The court held that medical reports showed the patient was in a “pathetic condition” and that continuing life-sustaining treatment was not in his best interest.
A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan allowed the plea and directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to admit the patient, Harish Rana, to its palliative care unit where life support may be withdrawn in a carefully planned manner that preserves his dignity.
Here are the key takeaways from the verdict.
Passive euthanasia refers to the intentional withdrawal or withholding of medical treatment or life support necessary to keep a patient alive, allowing death to occur naturally. The court directed that the withdrawal of treatment in Rana’s case must follow a tailored plan to ensure his dignity is maintained during the process.
The victim, identified as Naitik Kumar, allegedly rammed his speeding Bullet motorcycle into a scooter near Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow, triggering a crash that left him dead and two others injured.
RJD MLA who skipped Bihar Rajya Sabha poll voting cites mother's illness
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest march in Kolkata against the alleged LPG shortage, accusing the PM Narendra Modi-led Centre of failing to ensure adequate supply.
Himayani Puri, daughter of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, has moved the Delhi High Court over "false and malicious" reports linking her to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The family, a resident of Thyagaraju Street in Punganur town, had recently repaired the engine of their two-wheeler vehicle. A local mechanic advised the family to keep the engine running overnight to "set" the newly installed parts. However, this turned out to be fatal for the family.
The Supreme Court closed criminal proceedings against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad after the Haryana government said it would not grant sanction to prosecute him over social media posts related to Operation Sindoor.
Three Congress MLAs in Bihar are reportedly out of contact as voting for five Rajya Sabha seats is underway, with the INDIA bloc and the BJP-led NDA locked in a tight contest for the fifth seat that could hinge on cross-voting.
Bunty Solanki stabbed his wife to death following a quarrel at their residence in Vadodara's Bakrawadi area. Rita died on the spot.
The girl's family members were angered over the friendship, and as a result, they called Jadhav last Saturday evening and allegedly beat him.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that direct talks with Iran to restore shipping through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz have yielded results, stressing that direct engagement with Tehran is the most effective way to address the disruption.
This moment comes days after the Supreme Court allowed Harish Rana to die with dignity – a historic first court-ordered case of passive euthanasia in India. The court acknowledged the medical opinion that Rana will never recover and that the tubes that feed him and keep him alive are only prolonging his pain.
Ground videos from Shopian showed snow-draped pine trees as the weather brought joy for tourists. Speaking to reporters, a tourist from Bihar said she was unable to contain her happiness over the unexpected snowfall.