New Delhi: A five-judge Constitution bench will decide whether a "living will" or voluntary euthanasia can be allowed if a person is terminally ill or may go into a vegetative state with no hope of recovery.
"This is an important question involving legal and medical issues. For the benefit of humanity, we refer this to a Constitution bench," a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam, said today.
The court acted on a petition filed by the NGO Common Cause, which argued that a person should be allowed to die with dignity.
"Right to die with dignity is also a part of the right to liberty," said Kamal Jaiswal of Common Cause, which filed a writ petition asking for a law on the lines of the Patient Autonomy and Self-determination Act of the US, which allows living wills.
The Centre had opposed it saying it will have serious repercussions, and a decision on withdrawing someone's life support system should be by a panel of doctors, not the patient.
"A doctor's duty is to preserve life, not take it," the government had said, adding that such a policy should be decided by the executive, not the judiciary.
"This is an important question involving legal and medical issues. For the benefit of humanity, we refer this to a Constitution bench," a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam, said today.
The court acted on a petition filed by the NGO Common Cause, which argued that a person should be allowed to die with dignity.
The Centre had opposed it saying it will have serious repercussions, and a decision on withdrawing someone's life support system should be by a panel of doctors, not the patient.
"A doctor's duty is to preserve life, not take it," the government had said, adding that such a policy should be decided by the executive, not the judiciary.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Makes Muslim Women's Condition Pathetic": Centre On Triple Talaq In Supreme Court Supreme Court Takes Up Doctor's Rape-Murder Case, To Hear Matter On Tuesday US Supreme Court Keeps Block On Rules Protecting Transgender Students Indian Airports, Borders On Alert As Global Mpox Cases Rise: 10 Points "My Intention Was To...": Sudha Murty Clarifies Raksha Bandhan Post Flower Seller Forced To Buy iPhone For Son On Hunger Strike, Internet Reacts "Hang Him Or Do...": Mother-In-Law Of Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Accused Former Congressman George Santos Pleads Guilty To Fraud Joe Biden's Son Hunter Loses Bid To Toss Tax Evasion Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.