A merciful end become legalized in 7 countries, in India only ‘Passive Euthanasia’ is legal

On 30 January 2021, the bill regarding ‘Euthanasia’ that is, the death of the will, was passed in the Parliament of Portugal. Now after the President's assent to this bill, it will get legal validity. After which Portugal will become the fourth country in Europe and the 7th country in the world to legalize death. In almost all the developing countries, whether or not the desire to get legal acceptance and legitimacy has always been a matter of debate. Have you ever had a question, What is Euthanasia or Mercy Killing? In what circumstances is the demand justified? Let's try to get to know through this article.

What is euthanasia or will death?

Euthanasia or will death, also known as Mercy Killing, means - relieve a patient suffering from a very serious and incurable disease or who has been in a coma for a long time, to end his life with the help of doctors from this condition and physical pain.

Euthanasia is mainly divided into two parts - Active Euthanasia and Passive Euthanasia. Where the patient suffering from incurable disease is killed in active will, by taking steps like injecting poison with the help of a doctor. At the same time, a patient suffering from incurable disease who has been in a coma for a long time, with the consent of his relatives, the treatment or life saving system (life support system) is removed. However, whatever form of desire death may be, it has always been seen as murder.

Euthanasia or Desire Death situation in India

The Indian constitution has always described the will of death as an ‘Unconstitutional Act. Under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code, it is a crime equivalent to suicide. But in view of many cases related to will death and the committee created by the Central Government removed the life support system of the patient under special circumstances, it was justified by the Supreme Court demanding acceptance of the ‘Passive Death’ from the Supreme Court. In the year 2018, the Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Deepak Mishra approved a dignified and painless wish to the patient with a strict guidelines under the right to death, the will of life and the right to life was  Granted.

How many times India faced Euthanasia related serious cases

-The first case of will death in India came when in 1973, a nurse named Aruna Shanbaugh was raped in the hospital of KEM Hospital, Mumbai in Mumbai. She was in a coma for 42 years. Due to this, Journalist Pinki Virani had demanded from the Supreme Court the death of the will for compassion. However, her petition to the Supreme Court was dismissed. Meanwhile, Aruna died on her own in 2015. After this, the SC had declared the passive will dead legal on the petition of Pinki Virani.

Aruna Shanbaugh

-In 2005, Tarakeshwar Sinha, a resident of Bihar Patna, petitioned the governor for the death of his wife Kanchan Devi, who had been unconscious since the year 2000 and remained as a mere corpse, demanding mercy for her.

-Similarly, in 2008, Jeet Narayan of Uttar Pradesh demanded euthenisia for his four children, in which they were paralyzed under their necks, suffering from incurable diseases such as incurable disease.

-In 2001, Euthanasia was sought for BK Pillai, a resident of Kerala, suffering from an impossible disease, but the Kerala High Court did not allow it.

-In 2015, a woman from Kanpur demanded active euthanasia for her daughter, who was suffering from muscular dystrophy, in the event of not being able to treat her daughter due to financial crisis.

-Apart from this, more cases related to death have come up. Even people struggling with depression or mental stress for a long time demand mercy killing.

Supreme Court of India

Who can demand for mercy killing

In the event of not being cured of any incurable disease, the patient himself or any of his immediate relatives may ask for euthanasia.

Questions have always been raised about the wrong use of Mercy Killing

Even though the Indian Supreme Court has given legal approval to ‘Passive Euthanasia’ but the court itself has expressed serious concern about that - because the treatment and care of the elderly in middle class families is considered as a burden nowadays, In such a situation, this law can be misused by wishing them for death or by giving money to the doctor illegally.

What does the JAMA report say

According to JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association), an annual journal calculating Euthanasia and Suicide, between 0.3% and 4.6% every year, the Patient will demand death or a Physician Assisted Suicide, PAS. Euthanasia has only grown more since it gained legal legitimacy.