Right to die with dignity is a fundamental right, India's Supreme Court has said.
In a landmark judgement, the court on Friday gave legal sanction to passive euthanasia and has issued detailed guidelines in this regard.
Reading out the judgement, the Chief Justice of India said the judges were unanimous that the living will should be permitted as a person cannot be allowed to continue suffering in coma when he or she does not wish to live.
The ruling comes from a petition filed by an NGO seeking direction for recognition of 'living will.' In its petition, the NGO contended that a person should be given the right to refuse being put on life support if a medical expert says the person has reached a point of no return.
In 2011, the Supreme Court had recognised passive euthanasia in Aruna Shanbaug case.
Shanbaug finally passed away on May 15, 2015 from pneumonia.
