06-13-2006, 12:04 AM
<!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo--> Govt considering law on euthanasia
- Nidhi Razdan/Devdeep Purohit/Rahul Srivastava
Monday, June 12, 2006 (New Delhi/Kolkata):
For the first time India is considering a mercy killing law for patients who have no chance of recovery. It's a controversial proposal and currently the thought is to allow it only after its been cleared by a panel of doctors.
Vijay is just 12 year old. Suffering from a terminal disease he could well become the face of an old debate: the right to die. His parents want to put an end to his suffering, but the law prohibits it.
But now there's hope. The law commission of India has recommended that the law needs to protect terminally ill patients and if they refuse medical treatment they should not be charged with attempt to commit suicide.
"We are looking into the recommendations. The proposals have been sent to health ministry for their opinion," said H R Bharadwaj, Law Minister.
Complicated issue
But it's a complicated issue. Consider the doctors. In Hyderabad 25-year-old Venkatesh who was on life support wanted his doctor to pull the plug so that he could donate his organs. The doctor could not and Venkatesh died within days of his request.
So if euthanasia is made legal who takes the final call? The patient or the doctor? The law commission proposes the patient or his family requests his doctor for mercy killing.
If the doctor agrees then he approaches a government-appointed three member expert committee of doctors which then has to concur.
But medical experts want more safeguards to protect patients like the aged or even women.
Easier way out?
Others say in a poor and large country euthanasia could tempt patients and families to take the easier way out, even if it means death.
"Medical facilities in India are not same. Not all Indians can afford the available treatments. A terminally ill patient in the Andamans can find cure in Delhi, Mumbai. I feel there is no need to rush with a law," said Indrajit Ray, Head, MCI Ethics Committee.
Euthanasia is a Greek word meaning death. In a country where the spread of health services is poor and costs too dear euthanasia or mercy killing may find support.
But it's a globally unresolved issue. Only in Holland mercy killing is on the right side of the law. Here in India the government will have to kill all possibilities of abuse before right to die can be added to the constitution.
[Last Updated: 20:54 IST]
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--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo--> Govt considering law on euthanasia - Nidhi Razdan/Devdeep Purohit/Rahul Srivastava
Monday, June 12, 2006 (New Delhi/Kolkata):
For the first time India is considering a mercy killing law for patients who have no chance of recovery. It's a controversial proposal and currently the thought is to allow it only after its been cleared by a panel of doctors.
Vijay is just 12 year old. Suffering from a terminal disease he could well become the face of an old debate: the right to die. His parents want to put an end to his suffering, but the law prohibits it.
But now there's hope. The law commission of India has recommended that the law needs to protect terminally ill patients and if they refuse medical treatment they should not be charged with attempt to commit suicide.
"We are looking into the recommendations. The proposals have been sent to health ministry for their opinion," said H R Bharadwaj, Law Minister.
Complicated issue
But it's a complicated issue. Consider the doctors. In Hyderabad 25-year-old Venkatesh who was on life support wanted his doctor to pull the plug so that he could donate his organs. The doctor could not and Venkatesh died within days of his request.
So if euthanasia is made legal who takes the final call? The patient or the doctor? The law commission proposes the patient or his family requests his doctor for mercy killing.
If the doctor agrees then he approaches a government-appointed three member expert committee of doctors which then has to concur.
But medical experts want more safeguards to protect patients like the aged or even women.
Easier way out?
Others say in a poor and large country euthanasia could tempt patients and families to take the easier way out, even if it means death.
"Medical facilities in India are not same. Not all Indians can afford the available treatments. A terminally ill patient in the Andamans can find cure in Delhi, Mumbai. I feel there is no need to rush with a law," said Indrajit Ray, Head, MCI Ethics Committee.
Euthanasia is a Greek word meaning death. In a country where the spread of health services is poor and costs too dear euthanasia or mercy killing may find support.
But it's a globally unresolved issue. Only in Holland mercy killing is on the right side of the law. Here in India the government will have to kill all possibilities of abuse before right to die can be added to the constitution.
[Last Updated: 20:54 IST]
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