Withdrawal of Life Support Treatments: Salient Points of Supreme Court Judgment on 11th March 2026 The decision of Supreme Court on 11 March 2026 in the case of Harish Rana Vs Union of India and others allowing the withdrawal of Life Support Treatments highlight the evolving understanding of the right to life and right to…
Read MoreThe First Case of Withdrawal/Withholding of Life Support in India A First-Hand Report by Dr Savita Butola for the Advance Care Planning- India (ACP-I) Team A Peaceful Passing Finally, Mr Harish Rana passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family members, at the Palliative Care Department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi,…
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From Paper to Patients: Why India must put Palliative Care Policies into Practice – Ms. Smriti Rana, Thiruvananthapuram Only 4% of India’s population has access to palliative care. Many of the right ideas have already been written into policies: the National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC, 2012), the National Health Policy (2017) that recognizes palliative…
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Important step forward regarding Living Will The Indian Association of Palliative Care welcomes the Karnataka Government’s order of Thursday, 30 January, 2025. This order simplifies the due process for withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment (WLST) in terminally ill patients as per the Supreme Court judgment of January 2023. When a patient is terminally…
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Advancing the Law for Advance Medical Directives – Dr Dhvani Mehta, New Delhi The law is inextricably intertwined in relation to palliative care, especially in India, not always for the good. The law is misunderstood (“withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is euthanasia”), it is misinterpreted (“palliative sedation is illegal”), and it is misdirected (“discharging patients against medical…
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Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation FAQs about End of Life Care and the Law in India – Addressing Common Concerns End of Life Care – A Ready Reckoner Advance Medical Directive and Healthcare Attorney Authorisation Draft letter to local authority to deposit Advanced Medical Directives (Document courtesy: ELICIT, Pallium India and Vidhi…
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Supreme Court Judgement copy: Advance Medical Directives (Living Will) and withdrawal of life support treatment A Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice K M Joseph has passed orders to making suitable amendments to the previous procedure regarding making an advance medical directive and withholding and withdrawing of life support treatment. This landmark judgement…
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The Supreme Court of India eases the process for Advance Medical Directives (Living Will) and withdrawal of life support treatment! A Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice K M Joseph has passed orders to making suitable amendments to the previous procedure regarding making an advance medical directive and withholding and withdrawing of…
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Rights, Relief and the Road ahead – Ms. Smriti Rana, Trivandrum December 10th was celebrated as World Human Rights Day. The word “celebrate” does not roll easily off the tongue, or on to this page. Celebration indicates happiness at achieving a goal, a milestone. Perhaps in the context of palliative care, it is better viewed…
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Palliative Care and the fundamental right to die with dignity – Mr. Rishabh Shrivastava and Dr. Anant Bhan, Bhopal The Indian Constitution guarantees the right to life under Article 21. Over a period of time, the jurisprudence around Article 21 has undergone significant transformation. One of the crucial facets of the right to life is…
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