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Landmark ruling leads to withdrawal of life support
Harish Rana, a 31-year-old Indian man, died on Tuesday after the Supreme Court permitted the removal of his life-sustaining treatment, marking the country's first instance of court-sanctioned passive euthanasia.
Background of the case
Rana had been in a coma since 2013, following a fall from a fourth-floor balcony that left him with severe head injuries. At the time of the accident, he was an engineering student. He had not prepared a living will-a legal document outlining medical preferences in case of incapacitation.
Legal battle for passive euthanasia
In 2018, India's Supreme Court legalized passive euthanasia, allowing individuals to draft living wills to refuse life-sustaining treatment if they suffer from an irreversible condition. However, Rana's lack of a living will complicated his case, as he could not consent to the withdrawal of treatment.
His parents, who had exhausted their savings on his care, first approached the Delhi High Court in 2024, but their plea was rejected on the grounds that Rana was not dependent on life-support machines at the time. A subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court was also denied.
Supreme Court's decision
In 2025, the family returned to the Supreme Court, arguing that Rana's condition had worsened and that he was being kept alive artificially. The court agreed to reconsider the case after two medical boards evaluated his health.
Both boards concluded that Rana had no realistic chance of recovery, required external assistance for basic functions, and suffered from permanent brain damage and severe bed sores. On March 11, the Supreme Court ruled that he was unresponsive to treatment and authorized the medical boards to proceed with their clinical judgment.
Final days and death
Rana was transferred to the palliative care unit at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where he died after life support was withdrawn.
Implications of the ruling
"This case will set a precedent for similar situations across India," the family's lawyer told the Indian Express.
The lawyer noted that many patients in comparable conditions could now seek legal recourse under the passive euthanasia framework.
