Government cautious on euthanasia issue, unlikely to make law

NEW DELHI: Treading cautiously on the sensitive issue, the government is unlikely to make a law on euthanasia even a year after the Supreme Court allowed the High Courts to take a call on withdrawal of life support for patients living in a permanent vegetative state.

The Law Ministry had recently made a reference to Law Commission on the issue seeking its response on certain questions. But sources said the Law panel is not too keen to carry out any fresh study on the subject.

The Ministry's earlier report on the subject six years back has not been implemented.

The March 7 judgement last year of the Supreme Court had asked the 21 High Courts to follow certain guidelines before giving a final go-ahead for withdrawal of life support medicines and systems to patients who are brain dead or in a permanently vegetative state.

The consent of relatives and the opinion of medical experts has been made necessary.

The apex court had said that its judgement would remain in force until Parliament enacts a law on this issue.

Sources said since the issue is very sensitive, the government may not frame any law on the subject for the time being and let the courts to decide in such cases.

Framing of a new law would require the involvement of various ministries since any move on euthanasia would have medical, legal and social implications.

After a long internal exercise, the Law Ministry had asked the Law panel whether a standalone law was required for euthanasia or should it amend the Human Organ Transplant Act to incorporate necessary provisions.

It had also wanted to know whether the Supreme Court judgement should be treated as law.