THE ISSUE of Euthanasia or mercy killing once again rose to prominence across the country with the subject being Aruna Shanbaug. Aruna, who was molested and later strangled with a dog chain by a cleaner working in King Edward Memorial Hospital has been lying in a vegetative state since the last 37 years.
Euthanasia, which is a practice of relieving a terminally ill patient by giving lethal drugs is considered illegal as per the Indian constitution. Although, countries such as the Netherlands, the United States of America and Belgium have their own laws, the types of options offered, differ.
However, Aruna's story is not the only heart wrenching story. Another patient, K. Venkatesh whose mother had filed a petition with the court also faced the same fate that of Aruna's.
There have always been claims against mercy killing in the society. People who are orthodox believe that a person suffers because of his past karmas, whereas all the religions are against killing. But when life is not worth living like in the case of Aruna, who can't hear, eat, move, or do anything, it is difficult to survive.
As per the constitution, if a person has the right to live with dignity then why can’t there be the right to die with dignity? Though euthanasia can be misused by doctors and enemies of a person the debate remains as it was.
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