New Delhi (India) March 11:A 31-year-old man, Harish Rana who has been in a vegetative state for the past 13 years due to a tragic accident, can now peacefully pass away after the Supreme Court granted permission to withdraw his life support at the request of his parents. This marks a significant moment in India, as it is the first case of court-approved passive euthanasia, which involves the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment.

Harish's Accident: From Student to Bedridden

The man, Harish Rana, was a college student when he fell from the fourth floor of a guest accommodation in 2013, suffering severe injuries that left him reliant on life support.
Since that day, he has been confined to bed, dependent on a tracheostomy tube for breathing and a gastrojejunostomy tube for nutrition. The court has directed AIIMS to admit him to palliative care, where his medical treatment can be withdrawn compassionately.

Supreme Court's Decision

The verdict was delivered by Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, who clarified several aspects of a previous Supreme Court ruling from 2018 that recognized the legality of passive euthanasia.
"Harish Rana was once a bright young 20-year-old boy pursuing education at Panjab University when he had a fall from the fourth floor of a building and sustained brain injuries. Harish was discharged, but a brain injury left him in a persistent vegetative state. He experiences a sleep-wake cycle and is dependent on others. The medical report shows no improvement in 13 years," the court said.
"His family never left his side... to love someone is to care for them even in the darkest times. Our decision today does not neatly fit in logical (lines), but love, life and loss," it added.

Medical Boards Confirm No Hope of Recovery

Following assessments by two medical boards, the Supreme Court reviewed their findings, which indicated that Rana had a negligible chance of recovery or returning to a normal life. They confirmed that he requires assistance for feeding, as well as for bladder and bowel functions. The boards also noted that he had suffered permanent brain damage and had developed serious bedsores.
Under Indian law regarding living wills, two medical boards must certify that a patient meets specific criteria before life support can be withdrawn. 

Aruna Shanbaug's Landmark Case

Passive euthanasia, in exceptional cases, was legalized in India following the landmark 2011 ruling in the Aruna Shanbaug vs. Union of India case. Shanbaug, a nurse, spent over 40 years in a vegetative state after a brutal assault that left her paralyzed and with irreversible brain damage. Although a plea for her passive euthanasia was denied by the court, she ultimately passed away from pneumonia in 2015.