MERCY KILLING IN INDIA: A JUDICIAL OVERVIEW
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Abstract
Every human being is desirous to live and enjoy the fruits of life till he dies. But sometimes a human being is desirous to end his life by use of unnatural means. To end one’s life in an unnatural way is a sign of abnormality. When a person ends his life by his own act we call it ‘suicide’ but to end life of person by others though on the request of the deceased is called ‘euthanasia’ or ‘Mercy killing’.
Euthanasia is mainly associated with people with terminal illness or who have become incapacitated and don’t want to go through the rest of their life suffering. A severely handicapped or terminally ill person should have the right to choose to live or die. The right to choose to live or die should not be a right allocated for bodied individuals of sound mind but to all human beings. Euthanasia is controversial issue which encompasses the morals, values and beliefs of our society.
Euthanasia and its procedure entail complicated issues regarding legal and procedural compliance in countries across the world. Every adult of sound mind has a right to determine what should be done with his/her person. It is unlawful to administer treatment on an adult who is conscious and of sound mind, without his consent. Patient with Permanent Vegetative State and no hope of improvement cannot make decision about treatment to be given to them.
Euthanasia has been a much debated subject throughout the world. The debate became increasingly significant because of the developments. In Netherland, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg euthanasia is legal. Switzerland, Germany, Japan and some states in the United States of America permit assisted suicide while in nations like Mexico and Thailand it is illegal.
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