The Union health ministry recently released the bill on Passive Euthanasia, titled "Terminally Ill Patients (protection of patients and medical practitioners) Bill". This background paper has been sent for further evolution of the draft of the proposed bill. The scope of Passive Euthanasia and the existing situation need to be studied so that the impact of the proposed bill on Passive Euthanasia is better appreciated. There are certain important situations where Passive Euthanasia will need consideration.
One is as an Advance Medical Directives (or Living Medical Will ) and the other is a durable power of attorney for health care, along with understanding medical, legal and ethical issues in an actual clinical situation. The pre-requisites, trigger, and algorithm of decision-making are also considered. The judicial decision-making process has to be on real time basis due to the inherent…
