BackPassive euthanasia: Supreme Court defers hearing to allow govt to debate bill
Additional solicitor general P.S. Patwalia told a five-judge bench of the apex court that the health ministry was assessing the feasibility and workability of the bill
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the central government to continue discussing and debating a bill regarding removing life support for terminally ill patients, also referred to as passive euthanasia.
Additional solicitor general P.S. Patwalia told a five-judge bench of the apex court that the health ministry was assessing the feasibility and workability of the bill. “Let it go through. Let the debate happen," he told the court.
Agreeing with the stand, the bench comprising justices Anil R. Dave, Kurian Joseph, S.K. Singh, A.K. Goel and Rohinton F. Nariman said that it would next hear the case on 20 July.
“Pendency of this case should not come in the way (of the government’s discussions)," the court added.
Earlier, the government had informed the court that it was considering the Law Commission’s 241st report, which said that withdrawing life support should be allowed for certain categories of people—such as those in a persistent vegetative state or in irreversible coma or of unsound mind, who lack the mental faculties to make decisions for themselves.
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