Background of the Case: Aruna Shanbaug was a nurse who worked at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. In 1973, she was brutally assaulted and raped by a ward boy, which resulted in severe brain damage and left her in a vegetative state. For several decades, she remained in a persistent vegetative state, being cared for at the hospital. In 2009, Pinki Virani, a social activist and journalist, filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking permission for passive euthanasia for Aruna Shanbaug, arguing that her continued existence in a vegetative state constituted a violation of her right to die with dignity.
Key Issues Raised:
Whether Aruna Shanbaug had the right to die with dignity as a facet of the right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution?
Whether passive euthanasia should be permitted in cases where a patient is in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery?
Whether the decision to allow passive euthanasia should be left to the discretion of the court or regulated by legislation?
Arguments from Both Sides:
Pinki Virani (Petitioner): She argued that Aruna Shanbaug’s continued existence in a vegetative state was devoid of any signs of life or dignity and that allowing her to die peacefully through passive euthanasia would be a compassionate and humane decision.
Union of India (Respondent): The government opposed the petition, asserting that permitting euthanasia could lead to abuse and exploitation of vulnerable individuals. It argued that the sanctity of life should be upheld and that alternative measures, such as palliative care, should be explored instead of euthanasia.
Judgement: In 2011, the Supreme Court of India delivered its judgement in Aruna Shanbaug v. Union of India, ruling against active euthanasia but allowing passive euthanasia under certain circumstances. The court held that while Aruna Shanbaug’s case did not warrant active euthanasia, passive euthanasia, involving the withdrawal of life support systems with the consent of a competent guardian or next friend, could be permitted if sanctioned by the High Court after due consideration of medical opinion and other relevant factors.
The court also laid down comprehensive guidelines and safeguards for the implementation of passive euthanasia, emphasizing the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of patients in terminal conditions while preventing misuse or abuse of the procedure.
Significance: Aruna Shanbaug v. Union of India is a landmark case that addressed the complex ethical and legal issues surrounding euthanasia and the right to die with dignity in India. The judgement provided clarity on the legality of passive euthanasia and established guidelines for its implementation, thereby offering relief to patients in irreversible conditions and their families. The case sparked debates on end-of-life care, medical ethics, and individual autonomy, leading to greater awareness and discourse on the rights of patients in critical conditions. The judgement remains an important precedent in Indian jurisprudence and serves as a guiding framework for the compassionate and ethical treatment of terminally ill patients.
