Fri Jan 31 12:14:00 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Becomes Second State to Implement “Right to Die with Dignity”
**Bengaluru, January 31, 2025** – Karnataka has become the second Indian state, following Kerala, to officially implement the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling granting terminally ill patients the “right to die with dignity.” The Karnataka Health Department issued an order on January 30, 2025, outlining the procedure for withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in accordance with the court’s decision.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated that this move will significantly benefit patients with no hope of recovery or those in a persistent vegetative state who no longer benefit from life-sustaining treatment. The Supreme Court’s ruling clarified that Article 21 of the Constitution, guaranteeing the right to life, encompasses the right to a dignified death.
The implementation process involves the establishment of primary and secondary medical boards at the treating hospital to review each case. These boards, comprising registered medical practitioners, including one nominated by the District Health Officer, will determine whether to withhold treatment after obtaining consent from the patient’s next of kin or a designated representative. Their decision must then be submitted to the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class (JMFC) before implementation.
The Health Department also introduced an Advance Medical Directive (AMD), or “living will,” allowing individuals to pre-determine their desired medical treatment. Patients can nominate representatives to make decisions on their behalf if they lose decision-making capacity. The AMD can be maintained in paper or digital health records.
This landmark decision is expected to provide relief and closure for many families and individuals facing end-of-life situations in Karnataka. The state will adhere to the Supreme Court’s guidelines throughout the process.
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