Open to frame law on euthanasia, says Centre

After 14 years of debates and several draft Bills, the government has responsed to frame a law on passive euthanasia, the act of withdrawing medical treatment with the deliberate intention of causing the death of a terminally ill patient, but it says that its “hands are stayed” because of pending litigation in the Supreme Court on mercy killing.

The affidavit filed by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry in the Supreme Court provides the first clear insight into whether the government considers euthanasia (which means “good death”) as manslaughter or an act of mercy.

Expert panel

The Ministry informed the Court that an expert panel had made changes and cleared the formulation of a law on passive euthanasia after extensive debates from July 2014 to June 2015.

Change in stand

Government in 2006 said: Euthanasia is against the hippocratic Oath, Medical science cannot indulge in Intentional killing.

Now in 2016, government is saying – Formulate legislation on passive euthanasia, but not active euthanasia as it can be misused.

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