Euthanasia – Between Life and Death

Every human, rich or poor, educated or an illiterate are alike in the hands of death. Euthanasia refers to the the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. The legality of Euthanasia is different around the world. Certain countries have legalized even active euthanasia while majority of nations hold any form of Euthanasia as illegal. Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Canada are some countries where active euthanasia is legal. India is one of the countries where passive euthanasia is legal, it was legalized by the infamous Aruna Shanbaug Case. The Rajasthan High Court held that Article 21 does not enshrine the Right to die and that the practice cannot be taken as an essential religious practice under Article 25 of the constitution and banned the practice and made it punishable under section 309 and 306 of the IPC. The judgment received opposition nationwide from the Jain community.