Euthanasia: Death By Consent And Suicide

Khushi, BA LLB, KIIT School of Law, KIIT

ABSTRACT

Vegetative state is described as a nightmare where a person lacks wakefulness as well as awareness. The issue of mercy killing has caught attention of law as well as public in India for quite a time now. Dignity is human and natural which needs to be respected even when the person appears lifeless. The ‘voluntary’ aspect related to euthanasia has raised several questions on the purpose, manner and methods. Its resemblance to suicide because the aspect of informed consent associated in the process needs to be differentiated. The author aims to aid the interpretation related to these three concepts. In addition to it, the author analyzes the death by consent dimension of mercy killing. This paper includes Literature review of Euthanasia which includes etymology, classification of Euthanasia and associated concepts, provisions in the Indian Penal Code and draft legislation pertaining to mercy killing and the international and national cases related to it. Further, different aspects of the literature are analyzed to unveil the similarity and differences between the concepts of informed consent and suicide in light of suicide. The paper also presents certain suggestions for future of mercy killing in India. The paper concludes with a positive note of best interest in humanity.

Keywords: Euthanasia, mercy killing, suicide, consent, vegetative state