Euthanasia wave hits Mumbai: 75 seek end-of-life option after Harish Rana's landmark case

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A new debate has erupted in Mumbai regarding euthanasia. Seventy-five people have submitted euthanasia applications to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This development comes after the country's first court-approved euthanasia case, prompting public reflection.

In these applications, people have clearly stated that if they become seriously ill or fall into a coma after an accident, with no hope of recovery, they should be given the option of euthanasia. To this end, they have also prepared and notarized living wills and submitted them to the relevant authorities.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde clarified that the BMC is simply preserving these applications. She said, "We preserve any euthanasia letter submitted by a patient, but we don't have the authority to implement it. That responsibility rests with the family. The court has allowed us to keep these documents, but not the authority to implement them."

In fact, following the Supreme Court's decision legalizing passive euthanasia in India, the BMC has assigned medical officers in each ward the responsibility of monitoring living wills. Anyone wishing to submit a living will must prepare the document in notarized format and submit it to their ward office.

Currently, a total of 75 applications have been submitted to the BMC. To simplify the process, the state government is working on developing an online portal or app so that people can easily apply. The backdrop of this entire matter is the case of Harish Rana, the first person in India to receive court-approved euthanasia. 31-year-old Harish Rana died at AIIMS, Delhi, where he was receiving palliative care.

Harish Rana had been in a coma since 2013. He was an engineering student at the time and suffered a severe head injury after falling from the fourth floor. After a prolonged coma, his parents requested permission to remove life support, which the Supreme Court granted. This decision was considered a turning point in India's legal and medical history. Due to a lack of clear rules and guidelines, the BMC is currently preserving these applications and awaiting legal clarity for further processing.