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New Delhi
The Centre has sought public opinion on a draft bill on 'passive euthanasia' which involves giving the right to patients to"withhold medical treatment or life support system for continuance of life".
Health Ministry has put up the draft of (Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients [Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners]) Bill in public domain and sought comments from various stakeholders by June 19. "Government has decided to solicit public opinion/ comments before formulation of law on passive euthanasia. An explanatory note along with a brief on euthanasia and draft bill (Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients [Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners]) as given by the Law Commission in its 241st report is being uploaded for soliciting public comments/opinions. The comments may be sent via email preferably by June 19," a Health Ministry notification signed by Under Secretary Sunil Kumar said. According to the note, passive euthanasia, also known as"negative euthanasia involves withholding of medical treatment or withholding life support system for continuance of life, withholding of antibiotic where without doing it the patient is likely to die or removing a heart-lung machine from a patient in coma".
