SC allows withdrawal of life support in Harish Rana passive euthanasia case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the withdrawal of medical treatment to 31 year old Harish Rana in a first passive euthanasia case in the country. The top court directed Delhi's AIIMS to admit Rana and provide all necessary facilities in carrying out exercise of withdrawing life support system.A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan pronounced the momentous verdict.Rana has been in a vegetative state with 100 percent disability and quadriplegia, requiring continuous medical assistance for breathing, feeding and daily care. The top court held that an individual can choose death when prolonging life through artificial life support goes against their dignity and there is no hope of recovery. Last year, the top court bench of the same Justices expressed its wish to meet the parents of the ailing man. The bench had examined a report on Rana’s medical history submitted by a secondary medical board from AIIMS-Delhi and described it as a “sad” report. The primary medical board, after assessing Rana’s condition, said there was a negligible chance of recovery.On December 11, the court noted that, according to the primary medical board’s report, the patient was in a “pathetic condition”.As per guidelines issued by the apex court in 2023, both a primary and a secondary medical board must be constituted to give expert opinion on withdrawing artificial life support for a patient in a vegetative state.“How does it feel to see your own child lying in bed for years, without any eye contact, any communication or movement?” asked his father, Ashok Rana, his voice breaking. “Every morning, we hope for a miracle, but instead we see him sinking further into silence. Emotionally and financially, we are exhausted. We have nothing left.”Pausing to steady himself, he added, “When I look into his eyes, there is nothing, no recognition. He cannot even turn his head. As parents, it is unbearable. We cannot see him like this anymore.”Harish was once a cheerful young man studying at Panjab University. But in 2013, a fall from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation left him with severe head injuries and 100% quadriplegic disability.His brother, Ashish, said the family held on to hope for years. “We kept believing he would wake up someday, talk again, walk again,” he said. But the prolonged treatment placed a heavy financial burden on the family.According to Ashish, they eventually had to sell their house in Dwarka to continue Harish’s care. “It takes around Rs 24,000-30,000 every month for his basic medical needs, including tubes, medicines, life support equipment. We are not financially affluent. Selling the house was the only option,” he said.