Supreme Court allows passive euthanasia for patient in 13-year vegetative state on March 11, 2026

Key facts

• The Supreme Court (SC) of India permitted the withdrawal of artificial life support for Harish Rana, marking a historic first for a patient in a permanent vegetative state (PVS).
• The decision was delivered by a bench comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice K V Viswanathan.
• The court classified Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) as a medical treatment rather than basic sustenance, allowing its withdrawal under specific legal requirements.
• The SC directed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, to admit the patient to its palliative care department to implement the end-of-life care plan.
• The ruling follows the 2018 landmark judgment in the Common Cause vs Union of India case, which recognised the legality of passive euthanasia for terminally ill patients.
• The SC urged the Central Government to enact comprehensive legislation addressing end-of-life care to prevent decisions influenced by financial distress or socio-economic vulnerability.
• The court directed Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of all districts to prepare and maintain a panel of registered medical practitioners for nomination to secondary medical boards.