LEGALITY OF EUTHANASIA IN INDIA: RIGHT TO DIE WITH DIGNITY

Anyone who has ever been born will eventually pass away because death is an inevitability. One of the moral issues that has received the most attention, recently is the concept of Euthanasia or mercy killing. There have been many discussions and debates about morality & legality of this concept as well as both its pros & cons over centuries. When all the life saving measures fail to give patients who are either terminally ill or are in condition of being persistent vegetative, a better quality of life, which are one of the most perplexing issues faced today then, physician – assisted suicide or Euthanasia can only be seen as a practical solution. The Indian Constitution’s Article 21 guarantees, “Right to Life” as a Fundamental Right which is an unalienable freedom that cannot be taken away by anyone. The ultimate intent of a human existence is to be lived with absolute dignity. As a result, coercing someone into living in a degrading manner goes against their free choice. As a result of the “Right to Die with Dignity” movement, lawmakers are now allowing people to choose how they want to pass away. Finding the root causes of a patient’s request for euthanasia was essential, as was using every legal instrument at our disposal to treat the patient’s condition and any other uncomfortable symptoms. This paper discusses euthanasia, including its types, its meaning in India and how it relates to the “Right to Die with Dignity” in India as well as western countries, arguments for and against it, and its ramifications for various religions.