After Supreme Court allows withdrawal of medical treatment, Harish Rana passed away at AIIMS Harish Rana, who had been in a vegetative state for 13 years, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Tuesday following a Supreme Court ruling that permitted the withdrawal of clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH). The court’s decision, which marked the first such judgment in India, came days before his death. Rana, 32, had sustained severe injuries and was left with 100% quadriplegia after a fall from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in 2013 while studying at Panjab University. The Supreme Court directed that Rana be transferred to AIIMS on March 11, where medical treatment could be withdrawn. His family, including his father Ashok Rana, had expressed mixed emotions about the ruling. While they welcomed the court’s decision as a step toward dignity in death, they described the process as emotionally challenging. Ashok Rana referred to the judgment as “dignity in death” rather than “passive euthanasia,” a term the court itself replaced in its ruling. AIIMS confirmed that Rana passed away at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, under the care of a dedicated medical team. The hospital expressed condolences to his family and loved ones. Following his death, his family reportedly donated his corneas and heart valves, which were retrieved by the hospital. The case sparked widespread discussion about the legal and ethical implications of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. The court’s ruling emphasized that such decisions must be made with the patient’s best interests in mind, balancing medical ethics with the rights of families. Rana’s family had long advocated for his comfort, stating that no parent wanted to see their child endure prolonged suffering.#supreme_court #aiims #harish_rana #panjab_university #ashok_rana
