India’s Catholic Church warned that debate over a possible “right to die” could widen after the Supreme Court allowed the withdrawal of life support in a landmark ruling.
The decision marks the first time a court in India has approved the withdrawal of treatment since the country recognized the practice under regulated conditions in 2018.
The case involves Harish Rana, who has remained in a vegetative state since suffering severe head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of a building in 2013.
His parents had asked the court to allow doctors to withdraw medical support after more than a decade without improvement.
In an interview with AsiaNews, Archbishop Victor Thakur of Raipur, president of the Board of Directors of the Society for Medical Education of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), said the court handled the case carefully but warned the ruling may influence future debates on end-of-life decisions.
“The judges did not use the term passive euthanasia in this case,” Thakur said. “In fact, the Supreme Court handled the Rana case very diligently and appropriately, allowing extraordinary medical support to be terminated.”
At the same time, he said the ruling could shape broader discussions about assisted death. “The door has been opened to the use of the term ‘right to die,’ and it will be difficult to decide in the future,” he said.
In their decision, Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan said Rana showed “no meaningful interaction” and depended on others for “all self-care activities,” including feeding administered through cannulas.
“His condition has shown no improvement,” the judges said.
They also praised the family’s dedication during the years of treatment, noting that “his family has never left his side” and that “loving someone means caring for them even in the darkest moments.”
While approving the request to withdraw treatment in Rana’s case, the court urged the government to consider introducing comprehensive legislation on passive euthanasia.
India’s debate on euthanasia has unfolded over several years. It intensified after the case of Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse who remained in a vegetative state for 42 years following a brutal sexual assault. She died of pneumonia in 2015, but the case sparked a broader national debate.
Subsequent court rulings recognized the possibility of passive euthanasia under strict safeguards and judicial oversight.
Active euthanasia, in which substances are directly administered to cause death, remains illegal in India.
The issue continues to provoke debate worldwide. Supporters argue that terminally ill patients should have the autonomy to choose a compassionate end when suffering becomes unbearable. Opponents emphasize the sanctity of life.
