A Wait for Death: Euthanasia in India

The passing away of Aruna Shanbaug, a rape victim, in May 2015, who was forced to live in a permanent vegetative state for 42 years, has reopened a fertile ground for deliberation on the much controversial problem of euthanasia that is tangled in legal, medical and ethical controversies. This article examines the debate surrounding the topic. The issue is extremely complex, as it involves profound questions regarding medical ethics and right to life. Some judicial systems in the world have legalised Euthanasia, but India is still to do so as the Supreme Court of India and the Government have not been able to reach consensus. There is a need for an open debate involving the citizens before any final enactment arrives.