Harish Rana, first person in India to be allowed passive euthanasia, dies at AIIMS Delhi
Harish Rana, the first person in India to be granted passive euthanasia, died on Tuesday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences after remaining in a coma for over 13 years, news agency PTI reported, citing sources on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old had been in a vegetative state since 2013 following a fall from a fourth-floor balcony that caused severe head injuries while he was a BTech student at Panjab University. He had since been dependent on artificial nutrition and intermittent oxygen support.
He was shifted from his home in Ghaziabad to the palliative care unit at the Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS Delhi on March 14. His nutritional support was gradually withdrawn after admission, in accordance with medical guidance.
On March 11, the Supreme Court of India, in a landmark ruling, permitted passive euthanasia in his case. The court directed AIIMS Delhi to carry out the withdrawal of life support through a carefully designed plan to ensure dignity.
A specialised medical team led by Seema Mishra, professor and head of anaesthesia and palliative medicine, was constituted to oversee the process. The team included experts from neurosurgery, onco anaesthesia, palliative medicine and psychiatry, marking the first instance of such a procedure being implemented in the country.
Passive euthanasia is the intentional act of letting a patient die by withholding or withdrawing life support or the treatment necessary to keep him alive.
Family bid emotional farewell to Harish Rana
A few days after the Supreme Court ruling, an emotional video surfaced of Harish’s family members saying goodbye to him. The 22-second emotional video that surfaced online shows the family spending their final moments with him. In the footage, his mother is seen sitting beside him, visibly distraught. A member of the Brahma Kumaris is seen applying a tilak on his forehead while gently speaking to him, saying, “Forgive everyone, apologise to everyone. It’s time to go now, okay?” as she strokes his head.
According to reports, the Rana family has longstanding ties with the Brahma Kumaris, a social spiritual organisation that assisted them in securing legal support to pursue the euthanasia plea.
