Harish Rana's Emotional Farewell With Family Before Life Support Withdrawal: Forgive All, Time To Go Now, Euthanasia, Supreme Court Harish Rana, a former student of Panjab University, lay motionless in his hospital bed as his family gathered for a final farewell in Ghaziabad. The moment marked the culmination of a 13-year struggle, as doctors at AIIMS Delhi prepared to withdraw his life support. Rana, who suffered severe brain injuries after a fall from the fourth floor in 2013, had been confined to a bed for years, relying on medical tubes for respiration and feeding. His family, affiliated with the Brahma Kumaris spiritual organization, had fought legally to secure his right to die with dignity. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling granted India’s first passive euthanasia permit, allowing Rana’s life support to be gradually discontinued. The decision, described as a landmark moment, followed years of legal battles and emotional toll on Rana’s parents, who had exhausted all medical and legal avenues to care for their son. The court acknowledged the family’s unwavering dedication, stating that their love and sacrifice had been a defining force in the case. The case drew parallels to the 1973 Aruna Shanbaug case, where the Supreme Court had initially allowed passive euthanasia for a nurse left in a vegetative state after a sexual assault but later ruled against active euthanasia. Shanbaug, who died in 2015, had spent four decades in a coma. Rana’s case, however, marked a shift, as the court emphasized that its ruling was not about choosing death but about avoiding the artificial prolongation of suffering. Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice K V Viswanathan highlighted the emotional weight of the decision, noting that Rana’s life had been defined by pain and helplessness.#supreme_court #harish_rana #panjab_university #aiims_delhi #brahmapuris
