The Supreme Court of India will meet the parents of a man who has been in a coma for over 12 years, as it considers their plea for passive euthanasia and the withdrawal of life support.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has expressed its intent to meet the parents of Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man who has been in a comatose state for over 12 years, while hearing a plea filed by his father seeking passive euthanasia through the withdrawal of artificial life support.
Harish suffered severe head injuries in 2013 after falling from the fourth floor of a building. Since then, he has been completely dependent on artificial life support, including a tracheostomy tube for respiration and a gastrostomy tube for feeding.
Passive euthanasia refers to the intentional act of allowing a patient to die by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment. In India, it is permitted under strict judicial and medical guidelines, including the Common Cause framework updated in 2023.
Supreme Court Observations
A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan reviewed a medical report by a secondary board from AIIMS, which detailed Harish’s condition. The Court described the report as “very sad” and emphasized that keeping him in this vegetative state is untenable.
The medical evaluation noted:
- Harish is completely bedridden with extensive bed sores and contractures.
- His bodily functions are fully dependent on care and support.
- Only basic brainstem activity remains, with a negligible chance of recovery.
The Supreme Court scheduled a personal meeting with Harish’s parents on January 13, highlighting the importance of hearing their perspective before making any final decision on euthanasia.
Legal Proceedings So Far
The case has undergone multiple stages:
- Primary Medical Board: Constituted by the district hospital in Noida to evaluate the possibility of passive euthanasia. The board reported negligible chances of recovery.
- Secondary Medical Board: Formed by AIIMS, comprising neurologists, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Their findings reinforced the primary board’s assessment.
- High Court and Supreme Court Hearings: The Delhi High Court earlier refused to constitute a medical board, noting that Harish was not on mechanical life support. However, the Supreme Court acknowledged the decade-long vegetative state and the emotional and financial burden on his parents, prompting further examination.
Under the Common Cause guidelines, a Secondary Medical Board’s assessment is mandatory before any life-support withdrawal. The Supreme Court has directed AIIMS to expedite the review and forward all medical records, photographs, and expert evaluations to the AIIMS Director immediately.
