Euthanasia (mercy killing)

Undergraduate MBBS Curriculum

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

5. Howard Martin ( B ritish 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

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

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

8. Aruna Shanbaug case!!!!

9. 1973 , 27 November Sohanlal Bharta walmiki Choked her with a dog chain Partial asphyxia  cortical areas damaged!!!! Unconscious condition

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

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

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

13. 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

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

15. THANK YOU