Aruna Shanbaug, the nurse at a Mumbai hospital, who was confined to a bed and in coma for a protracted period of 42 years, at last bid farewell to this world, leaving many questions unanswered. Almost everybody, including close relatives, deserted her in this state. Kudos to the hospital authorities and the dedicated staff who took good care of her during the perilous period. The culprit who was instrumental in her being in this irrevocable terrible condition was set free after a brief imprisonment and is living peacefully now. Recurrence of such brutal sexual crimes is increasing in India and there are many loopholes in the judicial system for such criminals to escape harsh punishment. Unless and until the Indian judiciary imposes strict measures and harsh punishments within a set timeframe, there is every likelihood that such acts will continue.
There are many such instances where victims of these atrocities are going through wretched conditions and some others are in a vegetative state, dying a little every day as there is no possible cure for their illness.
This makes us think of a legislation that should legalise euthanasia in India so that there is an end to the suffering of terminally ill patients who are in irreversible coma. The significance of mercy killing as a legally accepted practice in my opinion must come into force, which will bring an end to the never-ending melancholy of the victim. Many who are terminally ill and are in a vegetative state may be allowed mercy killing if they themselves or their close relatives opt for that.
— The reader is a businessman based in Dubai
