Page 225 - LECTURETTE TOPICS eBOOK

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Different categories of Mercy Killing

Active: When the person is put to death actively by giving some kind of injections
and medicines then it is active mercy killing.
Passive: This is a type of ‘letting the person die’ mercy killing. Life support system
machines, ventilators etc. are removed so that the person can die naturally.
Voluntary: This kind of mercy killing is done when the patient himself pleads for
death.

Involuntary: When mercy killing is done just out of sympathy and without the
knowledge and consent of the patient, it is involuntary.

Mercy Killing in India
• Mercy killing was not legal in India.
• In March 2009, Pinki Virani made a plea to the court for her friend Aruna
Shanbaug and against this judgement passed in March 2018, passive mercy
killing acquired legal status in India.
• Conditions laid down by the supreme court for practicing passive Euthanasia:
• In case of PVS that is Persistent Vegetative State, passive Euthanasia can
be practiced

• Or it can be done for the brain dead.
• The decision can be taken by the parents, spouse, close relatives or doctor.
• In case it is taken by near relatives or friends, there should be at least two
witnesses.
• Active Euthanasia is still not legal in India and many other countries. It is
feared that if it is made legal there are chances of abuse in the name of active
mercy killing.
• There have been cases in India where patients have written to the President
or Prime minister for active mercy killing because of their poor condition but
these pleas have often been rejected. For example, in 2008, Jeet Narayan, a
father of four sons pleaded for euthanasia for all is sons and write to the
President for the same but the plea was rejected.

Conclusion

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