“Just as every person has the right to life, he/she also has the right to die with dignity. It is inhuman to force anyone to live on life support endlessly. It is a torture for the person and the family and is known to push families into poverty and debts,’’ said former Indian Medical Association president Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, responding to the Supreme Court allowing a ‘Living Will.’
While the court has also set out strict guidelines that will govern when and how it is permitted, the apex court has allowed an individual to draft a ‘Living Will’ specifying that they not be put on life support if they slip into an incurable coma.
Dr. Rajesh Pande, director and senior consultant, BLK Centre for Critical Care, BLK Super Speciality Hospital said: “The Living Will authorises the withdrawal of life support systems, if in the opinion of the doctors he/she has reached an irreversible stage of terminal illness.’’
