Wheelchair-bound TN man appeals to govt for euthanasia; wants to donate organs

A Tamil Nadu man made an appeal to the state government to allow him to go for voluntary euthanasia.

Chennai, Nov 14: He was hale and hearty and used to work as a house painter in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore. However, an accident changed his life forever. The deadly accident left him partially paralysed.

Now, his entire life revolves around a wheelchair, with the help of which he moves from one place to another.

The 45-year-old caught the attention of the media after he made an appeal to the state government to allow him to go for voluntary euthanasia (mercy killing) on Monday. The man has also expressed his desire to donate his organs before his death.

A few years ago, while attending to his duties, the man fell from a building, which left his lower body totally paralysed.

"Tamil Nadu: 45-year-old man from Coimbatore seeks permission for euthanasia (mercy killing). The man, who worked as a painter, fell from a building, after which his lower body stopped functioning; says he also wants to donate his eyes & other body parts," tweeted ANI.

Euthanasia is a very controversial subject across the world and India is no exception. Passive euthanasia is legal in India under exceptional circumstances.

The Supreme Court legalised passive euthanasia by means of the withdrawal of life support to patients in a permanent vegetative state on March 7, 2011.

In fact, in October this year, the apex court reserved its verdict on "living will" in cases of passive euthanasia.

The petitioner in the case argued before the court that the right to die peacefully was part of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Earlier, the Centre opposed the living will in "passive euthanasia" case and told the apex court that it could be enormously misused.

OneIndia News