In historic move, Karnataka implements Supreme Court ruling on right to die with dignity

In historic move, Karnataka implements Supreme Court ruling on right to die with dignity

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 2, 2025: In a landmark decision, the Karnataka Health Department on January 30, 2025, issued an order to implement the Supreme Court’s directive allowing terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity. Karnataka is now the second state in the country, after Kerala, to put this directive into practice.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao described the move as a step towards compassionate healthcare, stating, “This will help those with no hope of recovery or those in a persistent vegetative state where life-sustaining treatment no longer benefits the patient.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling, delivered on January 24, 2023, recognized the right to die with dignity as part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court emphasized that life-sustaining treatment could be withheld or withdrawn for terminally ill patients with no hope of recovery or for those in a persistent vegetative state, following a prescribed procedure.

The Karnataka Health Department’s order outlined that this provision applies to patients undergoing prolonged medical treatment with no decision-making capacity and no reasonable chance of recovery. In such cases, continued treatment might cause more harm than benefit, justifying the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining measures.

“This important step will bring great relief and a dignified sense of closure to many families and individuals,” Minister Rao stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The state government will adhere to the Supreme Court’s guidelines, requiring the approval of the treating doctor to implement the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.