Harish Rana, first Indian allowed passive euthanasia, dies in Delhi AIIMS
PTC Web Desk: Harish Rana, first Indian to be granted permission for passive euthanasia, died on Tuesday at AIIMS-Delhi. He had been in coma for more than over 13 years. He had been in a vegetative state since 2013 after a tragic fall from the fourth-floor balcony of his hostel at Panjab University. He was studying BTech studies.
He sustained serious head injuries in the fall and never regained consciousness. He was dependent on artificial nutrition, along with intermittent oxygen support, all these years.
Harish Rana was shifted to the palliative care unit of Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on March 14.
In a landmark ruling on March 11, the supreme Court allowed allowed passive euthanasia in his case, making it a first in the country. After the apex court orders, AIIMS started a meticulously planned process to withdraw his life support. A specialised team of doctors, led by Dr Seema Mishra, Professor and Head of the Department of Anaesthesia and Palliative Medicine, managed the entire procedure.
The experts from neurosurgery, onco-anaesthesia and palliative medicine as well as psychiatry were part of the team. Harish Rana’s nutritional support was slowly reduced as per the medical protocol. On Tuesday, he finally took his last breathe at AIIMS Delhi.
- With inputs from agencies
