'Eternally grateful': Father of Harish Rana expresses gratitude after SC allows passive euthanasia

Ghaziabad: After the Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, a Ghaziabad resident who has been in a vegetative state since 2013, his father Ashok Rana expressed deep gratitude to the judges for their decision. He said the ruling is not only significant for their family but could also offer relief to many others across the country who are dealing with similar circumstances.

Speaking to reporters, Ashok Rana described the long and emotionally challenging legal journey that his family has endured over the years. He recalled that about four years ago, his wife had suggested approaching the Prime Minister or the President for help regarding their son’s condition. However, at that time, he felt such a step would not be feasible.

Later, he shared their situation with members of the Brahma Kumari institution, with which he has been associated for a long time.

According to Rana, a senior member of the organisation helped the family by connecting them with advocate Manish Jain, who guided them through the legal process. With legal assistance, the family first approached the High Court and later moved the Supreme Court seeking permission for passive euthanasia.

Expressing his gratitude, Ashok Rana thanked the judges of the Supreme Court for their decision and also acknowledged the support of the doctors who had been caring for his son over the years. He said the order brought some relief after years of emotional pain and uncertainty.

He also pointed out that both he and his wife are growing older and have struggled to cope with the situation for more than a decade. Ashok Rana said he is around 63 years old while his wife is 60, and added that their son had been declared brain dead long ago.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia for the 31-year-old man who has remained in a permanent vegetative state for nearly 13 years after suffering severe head injuries in a fall from the fourth floor while he was a student.

A Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan permitted the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, stating that the medical board may exercise its clinical judgment in accordance with the guidelines laid down in 2018 judgment in Common Cause vs. Union of India.

The court directed that Rana be admitted to the palliative care unit at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where the process of withdrawing medical treatment can be carried out.

According to medical experts who examined him earlier, Rana has been in a permanent vegetative state with 100 percent disability and quadriplegia. He requires constant medical assistance for breathing, feeding and daily care.

A medical team that visited his residence observed that he was dependent on a tracheostomy tube for respiration and a gastrostomy tube for feeding, and concluded that the chances of recovery were extremely low. (With inputs from IANS)