This document discusses euthanasia and its classification. It defines euthanasia as voluntarily putting to death a patient suffering from an incurable, terminal, and extremely painful condition. Euthanasia is classified as either active or passive. Active euthanasia is an act of commission, such as a lethal injection, while passive euthanasia is an act of omission, such as removing a patient from life support. The document discusses how passive euthanasia was legalized in India in 2011 through the Aruna Shanbaug case, which allowed for the withdrawal of life support for patients in a vegetative state under certain guidelines.

1. Euthanasia (Mercy Killing)
Dr Nikita Prabhakaran G
Senior Resident

2. Eu= good, thanos=death
• Voluntarily putting to death
• Of a patient suffering from
• An incurable, terminal and extremely painful
condition

3. Classification
• According to Physicians Act
• 1. Active euthanasia
• 2. Passive euthanasia

4. (a) Active euthanasia
• An act of commission to bring an end to life
• Eg: giving lethal injection
• Legal in Belgium, Netherlands

6. • Howard Martin ( British doctor)
• Euthanized 18 patients in great pain giving
lethal dose of morphine injection
• 2005 he was tried for 3 murders  finally
acqquited
• But general medical council removed his name

7. (b) Passive euthanasia
• An act of omission  bring an end to life
• Eg: removing from ventilator
• Legal in India and some US States

8. India????
• Passive euthanasia was made legal
from 7 March 2011

9. Aruna Shanbaug case!!!!

10. • 1973 , 27 November
• Sohanlal Bharta walmiki
• Choked her with a dog chain
• Partial asphyxia cortical areas damaged!!!!
• Unconscious condition

11. • S 89 IPC, S 92 IPC
• No act done in good faith without consent is
an offence (exception- causing death)
• Section 304 IPC- punishment

12. Issue:
• Aruna deserved a decent death rather than
forcing her to live in a vegetative state

14. • Passive euthanasia under proper guidelines
was legalised (after almost 40 years)
• By means of withdrawal of life support to
patients in vegetative state.

15. Guidelines:
• Decision can be taken by
parents/ spouse/close/ relatives/
friend (if none else is available)/doctors
• Always in a bona-fide in the best interest of the patient
• Requires approval from the High court
• Chief justice of high court bench of two judges
• Bench a committee of three reputed doctors
• Before verdict a notice to close relatives and state
• After hearing the parties final verdict

16. Classification based on will of the
patient
• 1. Voluntary euthanasia
• 2. Involuntary euthanasia (against the will)
• 3. Non-voluntary euthanasia