Call for better understanding of ethics of euthanasia

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Anil Jaywant strongly put forth many aspects dealing with euthanasia and said that although the subject on superficial grounds appeared to be more of a legal and medical issue, its social and ethical ramifications need to be better understood.

Advocate Sudhakarrao Avhad stated, “As the right to speech also means the right of a person to not to speak, the Supreme Court has said that even right to live also means right to not to live.” The court has even described it as a global issue and there are several complexities in the issue, he explained.

The subject of euthanasia has different implications in different conditions an it has no uniform application as such, he said adding that making law in such case will have to face several hurdles.

Avhad however claimed that only provisions in this regard would not be enough to provide solutions.

“Provisions backed by enforcement can only bring some substantial results in this direction,” he said. A body can be constituted in this regard which can be assigned the work of speedy disposal of applications for euthanasia, he suggested.

The seminar was chaired by former Chief Justice of Bombay High Court B N Deshmukh. Dr. P S Ghare of the Dehdaan Sahayak Mandalwas was present on the occasion.