EUTHANASIA – SUPREME COURT IGNITES DEBATE

 

The recent SC observation has triggered passionate debate on the contentious issue of ‘Euthanasia’ that legalises a citizen to take his or her own life, in other words, to choose his/her death.

The right to die is an old philosophy that Indians practiced down the ages which was popularly known as ‘Samadhi’, ‘Nirvana’ or ‘Santhara’. This practice permitted giving up one’s own life voluntarily. Incidentally the colonial era law prevented one form voluntary opting of death. (which is against Christian culture)

The 2 types of euthanasia include Passive & Active. In passive euthanasia, the life support systems are withdrawn from a person in an irreversible vegetative state or if is terminally ill. Whereas in active euthanasia, even a healthy person, on his own choice, if chooses to die, is administered lethal injection that may cause death say by heart attack.

Osho Rajneesh too espoused to permit active euthanasia to people, albeit not below 75, who choose to die by giving themselves a month’s notice during which at any stage they can change their mind & withdraw. The person, during this month can learn to celebrate death by practicing the art of dying through carefully crafted meditative techniques thereby augmenting a peaceful slip into an endless sleep.