‘Help to Die’: The French President backs bill allowing medically assisted death

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It could make France the next European country to legalise euthanasia for the terminally ill patients by allowing them to “choose the path of least resistance when death has already arrived."
Euthanasia, also called mercy killing, is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit their suffering. Instead of condemning someone to a slow, painful, or undignified death, it allows one to ‘die with dignity’.
2 Types of Euthanasia
- Active: Involves an active intervention to end a person’s life with substances or external force, such as administering lethal injection.
  - Allowed in Belgium, Canada, etc.
- Passive: Refers to withdrawal of life support or treatment, such as ventilator, that is essential to keep a terminally ill person alive.
  - Allowed in Austria, Finland, Norway, etc.
Ethical conundrum with Euthanasia
- Arguments for: Personal liberty to execute a living will to refuse treatment, right of a dignified life by preventing needless suffering, etc.
- Arguments against: Devalues human life as taking life is inherently wrong and immoral, against medical ethics of nursing, care giving and healing, etc.

Legal status of Euthanasia in India

Currently, there is no law on Euthanasia.
Only passive Euthanasia is allowed in India by the Supreme Court (SC).
Important Judicial pronouncements
- Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug vs UoI (2011): SC held passive euthanasia for the first time.
- Common Cause vs UoI (2018): SC held that a person in persistent vegetative state can opt for passive euthanasia.
  - SC also held that Right to Die with dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21.