Supreme Court admits petition on mercy killing

New Delhi, Jan 31: The Supreme Court today admitted a petition to declare 'Right to die with dignity' as a Fundamental Right.

A Bench comprising Justices B N Agarwal and P P Naolekar granted the leave on a petition filed by Common Cause, an NGO seeking directions to grant the Right of Euthanasia or mercy killing as Right of the citizen in case the patient is terminally ill and the life has become hell for him or her.

The Court had earlier issued notices to the Union government and in its counter affidavit the government has contended that a private members Bill in Lok Sabha is already under consideration on the same issue.

The Bill called 'The Mercy Killing Bill 2002' was changed to 'Euthanasia Regulation Bill 2002'.

After considering the views of expert committee on the issue the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) has expressed the view that if such Right is granted progress of medical science to relieve pain, suffering, rehabilitation and treatment of so called incurable deseases will suffer a set back. And the wish of a person to die may be only a fleeting desire out of transient depression and it may not be persistent and suffering is a state of mind and perception which varies from individual to individual.

The government has also said that it will be difficult to quantify suffering which may always be subject to changing social pressure and norms and such patients can be treated by a good psychiatrists.

UNI