After 42 years on life support, Aruna Shanbaug died on Monday morning, amid a cascading of public emotion. Our readers responded prolifically to the story online.
The brutal rape had sentenced the former KEM nurse to a life in a hospital bed – paralysed, blind and in a vegetative state – but the cohort of nurses who had cared for her and pleaded to the Supreme Court to keep her alive, must be applauded too, readers said in response to our question on whether it was cruel or compassionate to have kept Ms. Shanbaug alive for so many years.
A running thread, however, was the need to revisit the euthanasia debate. “I don't think anybody would like to spend his life being confined to a bed… Honourable court should have allowed for euthanasia,” said Vikash Yadav on Facebook. In March 2011, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition filed by Pinky Virani seeking permission to withdraw life support to her friend, Ms. Shanbaug.
Euthanasia could have saved her from 42 years of plight and pain. >#ArunaDebate
— Shipra (@shipra749) >May 18, 2015
>@TheHindu Compassionate? It was purely a whim of legal system to deny her graceful death in the name of upholding some article >#ArunaDebate
— pramil (@DeeepFriedLife) >May 18, 2015
“Euthanasia should be debated, rather than (be) torment(ed) for life, you should have control to end it,” said Puneet Bhagat. “And what kind of compassion is it when she couldn't move from the bed for such a long time, why shouldn't we allow mercy killing. But rather, the law made her suffer. Euthanasia must be considered for nation's debate,” Mahesh Kumar, said.
“Compassionate? It was purely a whim of legal system to deny her graceful death in the name of upholding some article,” @DeeepFriedLife tweeted. Sharad S Panarnjpa saw the rejection of mercy killing as an act of compassion driven by the hope of recovery “Euthanasia is debatable issue. Has its own pros and cons. There's always hope that (she) might gain (her) senses again”
"A salute from the core of my heart to the group of KEM hospital nurses and doctors who took upon them the most pious job of taking care of Aruna Shanbaug for the last four decades. My heart goes to Aruna." said Parth Garg . "The hospital did its best. The amazing care and respect the doctors and staff of KEM hospital gave to her is unparallel(ed). But, now the time is that euthanasia is made part of law. We need a well drafted statute on euthanasia," Anoop Chitkara wrote.
Supreme Court guidelines on Euthanasia
Active euthanasia: Administering of lethal injection to snuff out life is illegal in India
Passive euthanasia: Withdrawing life support, treatment or nutrition that would allow a person to live, was legalised by way of SC guidelines in 2011.
Parents, spouse, close kin, "next friend" can decide, in best interests of the patient, to discontinue life support. The decision must be approved by a HC. In dealing with such a plea ,
- Chief Justice of High Court must create a Bench of at least 2 judges to reach a decision.
- Bench must nominate three reputed doctors
- A copy of the doctors's panel report must be provided to close kin and State govt. Only then can verdict be reached.
- - Aruna Shanbaug was brutally assaulted and raped by a wardboy-cum-sweeper of the hospital, Sohanlal Bharta Valmiki who throttled her with a dog chain. The brutal assault cut off blood and oxygen supply to key parts of her brain.
- - Valmiki is sentenced to six years in prison. He is released in 1980.
- - Pinki Virani, author of 'Aruna's Story', moves court seeking a peaceful death for Aruna and that the force-feeding be stopped
- - Supreme Court rejects petition. The petition was opposed by the hospital's management and nursing staff.
- - Aruna Shanbaug dies
>To live and to let go
Even as the Supreme Court considers the need for living wills, a new documentary film looks at the factors that haunt the issue of passive mercy killing.
>Of mercy and ending life
"We could have dismissed the petition [because]… the right to life guaranteed the Constitution does not include right to die"
>Who has the last word?
Legal experts and medical activists share their thoughts on the implications of the landmark judgment.
>Aruna is a child to us: KEM nurses
Would withdrawal of food and medication amount to manslaughter or an act of mercy - 'passive euthanasia'?
