32-year-old Chandigarh man in vegetative state since 2013 shifted to palliative care at AIIMS Delhi after the Supreme Court permitted the withdrawal of life support
New Delhi: In a landmark and deeply emotional case, 32-year-old Harish Rana has been shifted to the Palliative Care Department of AIIMS Delhi for passive euthanasia, following an order from the Supreme Court of India. The decision marks one of the rare instances where the apex court has permitted the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for a patient in a permanent vegetative state.
Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) confirmed that Harish Rana is currently under continuous medical supervision in the palliative care unit. However, medical experts say it is impossible to predict how long the process may take.
Doctors Explain the Passive Euthanasia Process
Former AIIMS Director Dr. M.C. Mishra explained that passive euthanasia does not result in immediate death and may take time depending on the patient’s condition.
“In passive euthanasia, it is difficult to determine how long it will take for the patient to pass away. The timeline cannot be predicted medically,” Dr. Mishra said.
He added that under palliative care, no aggressive or life-prolonging treatments are initiated, and the focus remains on providing comfort and medical supervision.
According to doctors, reducing artificial feeding in some cases may accelerate the natural process, but in Harish Rana’s case, no new medical interventions are planned as the treatment is strictly limited to palliative care.
Patient Not Experiencing Pain
Medical authorities said that Harish Rana is not currently experiencing physical pain, which is an important consideration in palliative care.
Dr. Mishra explained that the primary goal of palliative treatment is pain management and improving the patient’s comfort, rather than curing the illness.
AIIMS officials stated that the patient’s condition is being continuously monitored by the medical team, and all necessary care is being provided under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
13 Years in a Vegetative State
Harish Rana has remained unconscious and bedridden since 2013, after he reportedly fell from the fourth floor of a building in Chandigarh, resulting in severe brain injury.
Since the accident, he has been in a permanent vegetative state, dependent on medical support and constant care for survival.
After more than a decade of treatment and uncertainty, his parents approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to withdraw life support, arguing that their son had no realistic chance of recovery.
The Supreme Court ultimately granted permission, allowing the medical team at AIIMS to initiate passive euthanasia under legal and medical supervision.
Understanding Palliative Care
Doctors at AIIMS explained that palliative care is a specialised form of medical treatment aimed at improving the quality of life for patients with serious or terminal illnesses.
Rather than attempting to cure the disease, the focus of palliative care is to relieve suffering and manage symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, anxiety, restlessness and other physical or emotional distress.
Medical experts say such care helps ensure that patients receive comfort, dignity and compassionate medical support during the final stages of life.
The case has reignited discussions across India on end-of-life decisions, patient dignity and the legal framework surrounding euthanasia.
