New Delhi: India’s legal framework permits passive euthanasia in certain circumstances, but families caring for terminally ill patients often remain unaware of an important provision that can help guide end-of-life medical decisions — the “living will”.
Families struggle when treatment ends
At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, families of patients with advanced illnesses are often confronted with difficult decisions when curative treatment is no longer effective.
The experience of Piyush Singh, a 29-year-old cancer patient who has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy, reflects the uncertainty faced by many families. His mother said the family was unsure about what would happen if treatment could no longer improve his condition.
Another family at AIIMS was caring for a 40-year-old man with advanced mouth cancer after surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. With doctors indicating that further treatment was unlikely to help, his brother said he had no clear plan for managing his pain and care outside hospital.
What is a living will?
A living will, also known as an advance medical directive, allows a person to state in advance what medical treatment they would or would not want if they later become unable to communicate their wishes.
India’s Supreme Court has recognised the right to refuse medical treatment and permitted passive euthanasia subject to safeguards and procedures. The framework is intended to protect patient autonomy while ensuring that decisions are carefully reviewed.
However, awareness of advance directives remains limited, particularly among families dealing with serious illness for the first time.
Need for greater awareness
The experiences of terminally ill patients highlight the importance of conversations about palliative care, pain management and end-of-life preferences before a medical crisis occurs.
Better awareness among patients, families and healthcare workers could help ensure that difficult decisions are made with greater clarity, dignity and respect for a patient’s wishes.