SC rejects Aruna Shanbaug mercy killing plea
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, March 7: In a keenly-awaited verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea for mercy killing on behalf of a 60-year-old nurse, living in a vegetative state for the last 37 years in a Mumbai hospital after a brutal sexual assault.
A bench of justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra dismissed the plea filed on behalf of KEM hospital nurse Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug, saying that while active euthanasia (mercy killing) was illegal, yet "passive euthanasia" can be permissible in exceptional circumstances.
The apex court said that as per the facts and circumstances of Aruna’s case, medical evidence and other material suggest that the victim need not be subjected to euthanasia.
The bench, however, said since there is no law presently in the country on euthanasia, mercy killing of terminally ill patient "under passive euthanasia doctrine can be resorted to in exceptional cases."
The bench clarified that until Parliament enacts a law, its judgement on active and passive euthanasia will be in force.
Medical fraternity hails SC verdict rejecting euthanasia
The Supreme Court verdict dismissing the plea for mercy killing of a nurse was today welcomed by the medical fraternity, including nurses looking after the comatosed sexual assault victim, which cautioned that any move to legalize active euthanasia was fraught with dangers.
"India is not mature enough to handle euthanasia," senior Bangaluru-based cardiologist Devi Prasad Shetty said while expressing his happiness over the verdict on a mercy killing plea on behalf of 60-year-old Aruna Shanbaug who has been in a vegetative state for 37 years after the assault in a Mumbai hospital.
"It will definitely prevent many more premature deaths and people trying to take advantage of euthanasia," he said.
Shetty’s view was shared by Chief Cardiologist of Bombay Hospital B K Goyal, who said euthanasia is an emotional issue which can be "misused."
"The subject of euthanasia is very emotional. When we call it mercy killing, there cannot be mercy and then killing. The two words don’t go together," he said and likened it to permitting medical termination of pregnancy (MTP).