India’s First Passive Euthanasia Case Ends as Harish Rana Passes Away After 13-Year Coma

New Delhi, March 2026 : Harish Rana, the first individual in India to be granted legal permission for passive euthanasia, passed away on Tuesday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences after remaining in a coma for over 13 years.

The 31-year-old had been in a permanent vegetative state since 2013 following a severe head injury. Earlier this month, he was shifted from his residence in Ghaziabad to the palliative care unit at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital within AIIMS, where the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment was carried out under strict medical supervision.

On March 11, the Supreme Court of India allowed passive euthanasia in his case, permitting doctors to withdraw life support in accordance with established legal and medical protocols. The Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan ruled that the decision should follow the principles laid down in the landmark Common Cause vs Union of India case, which recognised the legality of passive euthanasia and living wills in India.

The court had acted on a plea filed by Rana’s family, who had been caring for him through years of intensive medical dependence. Medical reports confirmed that he suffered from 100 per cent disability and quadriplegia, requiring continuous assistance for breathing through a tracheostomy tube and for nutrition via a gastrostomy tube.

Expert medical boards assessed his condition as irreversible, with virtually no chance of recovery. Considering these findings, the apex court directed that he be admitted to AIIMS for end-of-life care and allowed doctors to proceed with withdrawal of life support based on clinical judgment.

Rana’s case had earlier been brought before the Delhi High Court, which declined to grant permission for passive euthanasia, prompting the family to approach the Supreme Court. During the proceedings, the court also explored alternatives such as home-based care after the Union government offered support including nursing assistance, physiotherapy, and free medicines. However, the family later informed the court that his condition had deteriorated further, with no signs of improvement despite prolonged care.

After reserving its verdict in January, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in March, marking a significant development in India’s legal framework on end-of-life decisions.

Rana’s passing brings closure to a prolonged emotional and legal battle fought by his family. At the same time, the case underscores the ethical, medical, and legal complexities surrounding passive euthanasia in India, highlighting the challenges faced by families and healthcare systems in dealing with irreversible medical conditions.