NEW DELHI, July 16 (Xinhua) -- India's Supreme Court Wednesday sought the opinion of all states and central government-controlled territories on legalizing euthanasia.
A five-member Constitution Bench of the apex court issued notices to all the states and central government controlled territories in the wake of a plea by a non-government organization that every citizen should have his right to die with dignity in case they are declared medically vegetative.
The central government on Tuesday opposed the concept of a living will, as suggested by the NGO, in which a person can register his right to die when he is hale and hearty. In fact, the NGO wants that passive euthanasia can be carried out by withdrawing life-support systems.
"Passive euthanasia is a form of suicide which cannot be allowed," the central government had said, adding such issues should be debated and decided by the Parliament and not by the court.
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