Context:
Recently, France President announced the bill for assisted dying
Euthanasia:
- Also known as mercy killing
- A practice of ending the life of a patient to eliminate their pain and suffering
- It allows one to ‘die with dignity’ instead of condemning someone to a slow, painful, or undignified death
Types of Euthanasia:
- Active euthanasia –
- Also known as ‘Positive Euthanasia’ or ‘Aggressive Euthanasia’Involves an active intervention to end a person’s life with substances or external force, such as administering lethal injectionA quicker means of causing death and all forms of active euthanasia are illegal
- Netherlands – 1st country to legalise both euthanasia
- Passive euthanasia –
- Also known as ‘Negative Euthanasia’ or ‘Non-Aggressive Euthanasia’
- Withdrawal of life support or treatment, such as ventilator, that is essential to keep a terminally ill person alive
- Usually slower and more uncomfortable than active
Legal status of Euthanasia in India:
- No law on Euthanasia currently in India
- Supreme Court (SC) allows only passive Euthanasia
- Important Cases –
- Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug vs. UoI (2011) – for the 1st time SC held passive euthanasia
- Common Cause vs. UoI – SC held that a person in persistent vegetative state can opt for passive euthanasia and under Article 21 – ‘Right to Die with dignity’ is a fundamental right
- Different Countries with Euthanasia –
- Netherland, Luxembourg, Belgium – Allows both euthanasia and assisted suicide for anyone with no chance of improvement
- Switzerland – Bans euthanasia but allows assisted dying in the presence of a doctor or physician
- Canada – Announced that euthanasia and assisted dying would be allowed for mentally ill patients
- United States – Have different laws in different states – Allowed in some states like Washington, Oregon, and Montana.
Related articles: Capital Punishment
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution.(b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV.(c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III.(d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution.
Answer: (c)
