Harish Rana, India’s first individual to permit passive euthanasia, has passed away at AIIMS Delhi after remaining in a coma for 13 years. The 31-year-old had been in a vegetative state since 2013 after suffering serious head injuries from a fall off a fourth-floor balcony while studying BTech at Panjab University. For more than 10 years, he survived with the help of artificial nutrition and occasional oxygen support.
On March 11, the Supreme Court of India allowed passive euthanasia in his case. The court directed doctors to withdraw life support in a planned and dignified manner.
Medical Protocol at AIIMS
He was shifted from his home in Ghaziabad to the palliative care unit at AIIMS Delhi, specifically at the Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, on March 14.
A team of doctors led by Dr Seema Mishra, head of anaesthesia and palliative medicine, handled the process. The team included experts from neurosurgery, anaesthesia, palliative care, and psychiatry, showing how sensitive and complex the case was.
Gradual Withdrawal of Support
Doctors followed proper medical guidelines and slowly stopped his artificial nutrition under close monitoring, as directed by the court.
This case is seen as an important moment in India’s approach to end-of-life care, focusing on dignity, medical ethics, and legal safeguards.
