Critical legal battle unfolds for family seeking mercy killing.
Thirteen years of silence and suffering may finally reach a legal conclusion. The Supreme Court of India is preparing to deliver a definitive judgment on the Harish Rana euthanasia case, a matter that has sparked intense debate over medical ethics and the right to die with dignity. Harish Rana, a former engineering student, has been in a persistent vegetative state since 2013.
Recently, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan reviewed a detailed medical assessment from AIIMS, New Delhi. The report, which analyzed Rana’s neurological health and diagnostic history, presented a somber outlook. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the court remarked that while the findings were heartbreaking, the patient cannot be left in this condition indefinitely.
To ensure a compassionate and informed decision, the bench has summoned Rana’s parents and siblings to appear for an in-chamber discussion on January 13. This personal meeting will allow the judges to hear the family’s perspective directly before deciding whether to permit the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. Under Indian law, Passive euthanasia requires unanimous agreement from both primary and secondary medical boards, alongside judicial oversight.
The tragedy began in 2013 when Rana suffered catastrophic head injuries after falling from a fourth-floor balcony in Chandigarh. Despite receiving treatment at premier institutions like AIIMS, Fortis, and RML Hospital, his condition never improved. For over a decade, his family has balanced the immense emotional toll with the staggering financial burden of home-based nursing care.
This current petition marks the family's third attempt to seek relief. The Supreme Court previously declined similar requests in 2018 and 2023. However, with a fresh medical report confirming no hope for recovery, the legal system now faces the difficult task of balancing the sanctity of life with the relief of a family exhausted by years of terminal care.
