The supreme court has turned down the mercy killing plea from Arun Shanbaug, who has been in vegetative state for 37 years now. [Read the report here]  Mercy killing or euthanasia is seen as criminal homicide around the world though a few countries have found a way to allow it. For example, the apex court noted that there is no law in the country on euthanasia and said mercy killing of a terminally ill patient "under passive euthanasia doctrine” can be resorted to in exceptional cases.

Mercy killing has been a hotly debated issue in the area of law and ethics. Should anybody have the right to decide on terminating anybody else’s life, even if there is no hope of saving that life? On the other hand, considering that the patient’s medical condition is beyond salvage, shouldn’t he or she (or their relatives – instead of the state) have a right to bring an end to the continuing pain and grief? Do we need a definite law on the subject, one way or the other?