Question 1

The Supreme Court legalized euthanasia, allowing doctors to end a suffering patient's life.

Accepted Answer

The Court only permitted 'passive euthanasia' (withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatment to let natural death occur). 'Active euthanasia' (giving a lethal injection) remains a criminal offense in India.

Question 2

Removing a feeding tube from a vegetative patient is considered illegal starvation.

Accepted Answer

The SC ruled that Clinically Administered Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) through tubes like PEG is a 'medical treatment', not basic care. Withdrawing it in futile cases is legally permissible and does not constitute starvation.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court judgment in Harish Rana v. Union of India (2026):
1. The Court ruled that Clinically Administered Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) is classified as basic nursing care and cannot be withdrawn.
2. The judgment explicitly disapproved of the practice of Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) for terminally ill patients.
3. The Supreme Court legalized active euthanasia for patients in a Permanent Vegetative State under strict medical board supervision.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

(a) Only one — Statement 1 is incorrect: The SC explicitly classified CANH as 'medical treatment' that CAN be withdrawn if it only artificially prolongs a permanent vegetative state. Statement 2 is correct: The SC warned that DAMA is an abdication of medical responsibility in terminal cases. Statement 3 is incorrect: Active euthanasia remains illegal; only passive euthanasia was permitted. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 4

Match the landmark cases/terms in List I with their primary significance regarding end-of-life care in List II:
List I:
A. Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011)
B. Common Cause Case (2018)
C. Harish Rana Case (2026)
D. DAMA

List II:
1. Legal validation of Advance Medical Directives (Living Wills)
2. Disapproved by the SC as an abdication of medical responsibility
3. First permitted passive euthanasia via High Court procedures
4. Recognized Clinically Administered Nutrition (CANH) as withdrawable medical treatment

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

(b) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2 — Aruna Shanbaug (2011) was the first case to permit passive euthanasia in India (3). Common Cause (2018) recognized the right to die with dignity and validated Living Wills (1). The 2026 Harish Rana case ruled that CANH is a medical treatment that can be withdrawn (4). DAMA (Discharge Against Medical Advice) was heavily criticized by the SC in 2026 as abandoning responsibility (2).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The Supreme Court in 2026 heavily criticized hospitals for using Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) for patients in irreversible vegetative states.
Reason (R): DAMA facilitates the immediate implementation of a structured palliative care plan at the patient's home.
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(c) A is true but R is false — Assertion (A) is true as the Supreme Court strongly disapproved of DAMA in the Harish Rana case. Reason (R) is false because DAMA does the exact opposite; the Court noted that resorting to DAMA undermines structured palliative care and amounts to an abdication of medical responsibility by the hospital.

SC Judgment on Life Support Withdrawal

Cyclonic Storm Fengal Landfall Over Tamil Nadu