Euthanasia case: Centre opposes 'living will' in SC, says it can be misused

The Supreme Court's Constitution bench on Tuesday commenced hearing on a plea favouring euthanasia. A five-judge constitution bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra,is hearing the case. According to ANI, Centre opposed the living will & told SC's five-judge Constitution bench that it could be enormously misused. A living will is when a patient can give consent which allows withdrawal of life support systems if the individual is reduced to a permanent vegetative state  with no real chance of survival. 

SC during the hearing advised Centre to set up permanent medical board to deal speedily with cases of passive euthanasia.  Besides the CJI, the bench also comprises justices A.K. Sikri, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan.

The court had in February 2014 referred to a Constitution bench a plea favouring voluntary passive euthanasia or mercy killing in cases where a person is suffering from a terminal illness and has no chance of revival and recovery as per the medical opinion. The court will consider the plea of an NGO, Common Cause, to declare 'right to die with dignity' as a fundamental right within the fold of Right to Live with Dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. 

With ANI inputs