The debate on the right to die which is also known as “euthanasia” has been in the public domain for a fairly long time and its course has been tortuous and somewhat bitter too. The opponents and proponents advance their well-reasoned arguments are divided in good numbers. While it is true that every life is sacred and is to be viewed with dignity and protected at all cost and at all events. It is one of our rights enshrined in the constitution. But there are certain situations in life when the life is reduced to a vegetable and loses all its meanings and the victims are simply left at the mercy of his others just to remain alive against all their wishes and seriously compromising with their sense of dignity. And the concept of “euthanasia” or voluntary death becomes relevant in these tragic cases.

The moral and legal aspects of euthanasia have been the topic for many a debate and discussion. Even the ancient Greeks and Romans were seized with this concept and lent support to suicides when it was no longer possible to provide succour to a person who could not be saved from death. In modern times The Netherlands enacted a law which permits the practice of voluntary euthanasia and Belgium too passed a similar legislation.

In India the retired Supreme Court judge, V.R. Krishna Iyer, a well-known champion of the cause of voluntary euthanasia who was the Chairman of a Commission in this regard said: “life is sacred, but intense pain with no relief in sight is a torture which negates life.” His remarks just echo the thoughts of many others. And the blind opposition as was seen earlier is now giving way to cautious acceptance. In fact the Kerala Law Reforms Commission presented early this year a bill which is known as “Kerala Terminally Ill Patients (Medical Treatment and Protection of Practitioners and Patients) Bill which contains strict provisions and safeguards.

However one needs to be very cautious while allowing this right. Appropriate safeguards mechanism need to be evolved to check its rampant corrupt abuses especially in India where dubious medical practices are galore. What is very interesting if a doctor associates himself in any such mercy-killing he is violating the Hippocratic Oath which runs like this : “ to please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice that may cause his death.”