Archive · 12 Dec 2025
SC Orders AIIMS to Review Euthanasia Plea for Harish Rana
The Supreme Court of India has asked the director of AIIMS in New Delhi to form a special medical team to check on a 32-year-old man named Harish Rana.
Harish has been in a vegetative state for 13 years after a bad accident.
His father wants the court to allow passive euthanasia, which means stopping medical treatments to let him die peacefully.
The court has already seen a report from another medical team that says Harish is in very bad shape and is unlikely to get better.
The new team will give their report by December 17, and the court will decide what to do next on December 18.
The court feels that Harish should not have to live like this and something needs to be done.
Harish's parents have been taking care of him at home, but it's very expensive and hard for them.
They had to sell their house to pay for his care.
The Supreme Court ordered AIIMS to form a secondary medical board to examine Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state for 13 years.
The primary medical board reported that Harish is in a pathetic condition with negligible chances of recovery.
Justice Pardiwala expressed concern over Harish's poor hygiene and severe bed sores, indicating he is not being well cared for.
The court directed the report to be submitted by December 17 and set the next hearing for December 18.
Harish's father has been seeking passive euthanasia for his son, and the court is considering the request based on medical reports.
- Who
- Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man in a vegetative state for 13 years, and his father Ashok Rana
- What
- Supreme Court orders AIIMS to set up a secondary medical board to examine Harish for passive euthanasia
- When
- The order was given on December 14, 2024, with the report due by December 17, 2024, and the next hearing on December 18, 2024
- Where
- Supreme Court of India, involving AIIMS, New Delhi, and Harish Rana's residence in Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Why
- To decide on the father's request to allow passive euthanasia for his son, who has been in a vegetative state with negligible chances of recovery
- Patient's Name
- Harish Rana
- Patient's Age
- 32 years
- Condition Duration
- 13 years in vegetative state
- Court's Decision
- Order to set up a secondary medical board
- Report Submission Date
- December 17
- Next Hearing Date
- December 18
- Primary Medical Board's Opinion
- Negligible chance of recovery
- Patient's Condition
- Bedridden with severe bed sores
- Medical Care Expenses
- Rs 27,000 per month for nursing, Rs 14,000 per month for physiotherapy
- Parents' Financial Situation
- Sold their three-storey house to cover medical expenses
Sources
‘Will have to do something’: Supreme Court asked AIIMS director to set up secondary board to explore passive euthanasia for 32-year-old
SC asks AIIMS to set up board to explore passive euthanasia option for 31-yr-old man
Who is Harish Rana? SC takes note of Euthanasia plea, says ‘can’t allow him to live like this’
