Euthanasia cannot be allowed: Ramadoss

Union Health Minister told Lok Sabha that allowing euthanasia would also deal a blow to medical science.

Government on Wednesday said it cannot allow euthanasia as medical science has made progress in pain management and the the wish to die could be a fleeting desire out of transient depression.

HT Image

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told Lok Sabha that allowing euthanasia would also deal a blow to medical science which has been making progress in providing relief to patients.

Euthanasia cannot be allowed as "progression of medical to relieve pain, suffering, rehabilitation and treatment of so-called incurable diseases will suffer a setback," he said.

Ramadoss said an individual's wish to die at a certain point of time may not be persistent and only a fleeting desire out of transient depression.

He said the wish of euthanasia by a mentally ill patient or in depression may be treatable by good psychiatric care.

Contending that suffering was a state of mind which varied from individual to individual and depended on environmental and social factors, Ramadoss said mercy killing could not be allowed as it would be difficult to quantify suffering.

"Similarly, rehabilitation helps many spinal injury patients in leading near normal life and euthanasia may not be required," the minister said.

Ramadoss said mercy killing could not be allowed as medical officers required to conduct euthanasia may undergo psychological pressure and trauma.