New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has come up with a draft bill inviting suggestions for legalisation of passive euthanasia which means withdrawing medical treatment with deliberate intention of causing patient's death.
The Ministry is on a look-out for views of the general public on this sensitive matter as it posted on its website a draft bill - Terminally Ill Patients (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners).
"Government of India has decided to solicit public opinion/comments before formulation of Law on Passive Euthanasia. The draft bill as given by Law Commission in its 241st Report is being uploaded for soliciting public opinion/comments on the same," said the issued circular.
Citizens can mail their views to passiveeuthanasia@gmail.com by June 19th, 2016.
In February, the Supreme Court abstained from passing an order on the appeal to legalise passive euthanasia and Living Will (the Constitutional right of terminally-ill persons to elongate their lives with the aid of life support systems) saying ‘it is the Parliament's responsibility to decide on its permissibility'.
"The issues of passive euthanasia and Living Will is being considered by the government. However, we may clarify that the pendency of the petition should not come in the way of the authority to take a decision," said the apex court.
