Thu Dec 18 07:21:08 UTC 2025: News Article:
Supreme Court to Meet Parents in Landmark Passive Euthanasia Case
NEW DELHI, December 18, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India has scheduled a meeting with the parents of a 31-year-old man, Harish Rana, who has been in a comatose state for the past 13 years, following a plea for passive euthanasia. The Court’s decision came after reviewing a report from a secondary medical board, led by doctors from AIIMS, detailing Rana’s medical history and prognosis.
During a hearing on Thursday, Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan expressed concern, stating, “It is a very sad report. We cannot keep this boy in this stage.” The court acknowledged the negligible chance of recovery for Rana, who suffered severe head injuries in 2013.
Rana’s father initially approached the Supreme Court last year, seeking judicial intervention to withdraw artificial life support, citing exhausted savings and willpower. While a previous bench acknowledged the difficult situation, they initially denied the plea on the grounds that Rana was not on life support, deeming it active euthanasia, which is illegal.
The case highlights the complexities surrounding passive euthanasia in India. In 2018, a Constitution Bench upheld passive euthanasia and the right to advance medical directives or ‘living wills’ as part of the fundamental right to live with dignity. The court further simplified the process for allowing passive euthanasia in 2023.
The meeting with the parents is scheduled for January 13th, at 3 p.m. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for future passive euthanasia requests and the interpretation of an individual’s right to die with dignity in India.
First Piper 