Couple executes will for passive euthanasia, if critically ill

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 20

To die with dignity, DN Jauhar (71), a former chairman of the Law Department, Panjab University, and his wife Adarsh (63), former Head, Department of Botany and Environment, Government Post Graduate College, Chandigarh, today filed and executed a ‘living will’ in a local court for passive euthanasia in case they suffer from terminal illness.

In the ‘living will’, the couple has given their assent to withdraw “life-support system” when they suffer from terminal illness that cannot be cured or adequately treated.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Jauhar said it took nearly nine gruelling months to prepare the document after studying the verdict of the Supreme Court on passive euthanasia in 2018.

DN Jauhar, who is a former Vice-Chancellor of Dr BR Ambedkar University, Agra, said he would also donate his body so that it could be used for research purpose. “I have been an academician throughout my life and I want to be a role model for my students,” he said.

It was not only his decision, but they discussed it with other family members also, he said, adding that right now, he was fighting fit and did not suffer from any disease.

Like right to life, it was also his right to die with dignity, he said, adding: “In case I fall terminally ill, I do not want that the illness to be dragged on. In such eventuality, I want to die with dignity.”

SC directions on executing ‘living will’ by terminally ill for passive euthanasia

• As per the Supreme Court verdict, the District and Sessions Judge should designate a judicial magistrate to execute the documents of ‘living will’ or advance directive in legal term.
• After executing the ‘Advance Directive’ if the person becomes terminally ill and is put on life-support system, then the hospital where he is admitted will constitute a medical board to certify his illness.
• The medical board will send a report to the Judicial Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner (DC).
• After that, the DC will also constitute a new medical board to re-examine the illness.
• If both reports are in consonance with each other, then the judicial magistrate will order withdrawal of life-support system.
• If there are differences, then the matter will go to the High Court, which will decide the case.