British Medical journal BMJ
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Assisted dying: the debate continues
BMJ 2019; 364 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l576 (Published 07 February 2019)
Cite this as: BMJ 2019;364:l576
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Re: Assisted dying: the debate continues
Assisted Dying in India
On 9 March 2018 the Supreme Court of India legalised passive euthanasia by means of the withdrawal of life support to patients in a permanent vegetative state.
There are different euthanasia laws in each country.
It can be classified into five types - voluntary, non-voluntary, involuntary, passive and active.
India joins countries like the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg in legalising passive euthanasia.
In India some are against it because of religious and moral reasons.
With religious beliefs against premature death held strongly in India, the right to life may weigh over the right to die with dignity that has been granted legal sanction by the apex court.
Even though the Supreme Court of India has recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right, major hurdles might be posed by religious communities, who may oppose euthanasia in India.
In Hinduism Atma-gatha, meaning suicide—the intention to voluntary kill—was prohibited in Hindu culture.
Indian Muslims may also not favour euthanasia. Muslims believe that no one has a right to die before the time decided by God.
According to both Sunnis and Shias, killing a terminally ill person, whether through active euthanasia (physician assisted suicide) or passive euthanasia (stopping life support or medicine), is considered as an act of disobedience against God.
Indian Christians, especially the Catholic Bishops of India, are also against euthanasia. The Catholic Church forever promotes the sanctity of life, thus euthanasia is contrary to its teachings.
Competing interests: No competing interests
08 February 2019
M.A. Aleem
Emeritus Professor of Neurology * Visiting Specialist in Neurology ** Consultant Neurologist ***
The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical University * Dhanalakshami Srinivasan Medical College ** ABC Hospital ***
Chennai 600032* Perambalure 621212** Trichy 620018*** Tamilnadu India
@drmaaleem
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