New Delhi: The government on Saturday said it
was examining whether a fresh legislation was required to
permit passive euthanasia against the backdrop of the Supreme
Court setting out guidelines for it and rejecting a plea to
allow active euthanasia.
"We need to examine the matter thoroughly...my law
officers are going through the judgement to see whether a new
legislation (on passive euthanasia) is required," Law Minister
M Veerappa Moily told PTI.
Meanwhile, Law Ministry officials said government may
also ask the Law Commission to study the issue and come out
with a report.
They said it will help the Ministry take a call on
whether a fresh legislation was needed.
Attorney General Ghoolam E Vahanvati had opposed
euthanasia in all forms in the apex court but the court had
rejected his stand.
The apex court had earlier this month rejected a plea
to allow active euthanasia (mercy killing) to Aruna Shanbaugh,
a victim of sexual assault, in a Mumbai hospital and set out
guidelines for passive euthanasia.
The apex court, while framing the guidelines for
passive euthanasia, said it would now become the law of the
land until Parliament enacts a suitable legislation to deal
with the issue.
Though the Law Commission had, in a report submitted in
2006, favoured mercy killing for terminally ill patients, the
Law Ministry thinks a fresh look will help clarify the issue
after the SC asked the government to bring a law on
euthanasia.
PTI
