After spending 13 years in a vegetative state, 32-year-old Harish Rana was shifted from Ghaziabad to All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi on Saturday.
After the Supreme Court of India permitted passive euthanasia in his case. Doctors will now gradually withdraw life-sustaining support under strict medical supervision, a process intended to end his prolonged suffering.
An emotional video that has circulated widely online shows Rana’s family bidding him farewell at their Ghaziabad home on Friday. In the clip, his sister, who is associated with the Brahma Kumaris, speaks to him tearfully, urging forgiveness and peace as the family prepares for the difficult transition.
“Forgive everyone, ask forgiveness from all, now it’s time to go. It’s okay,” she says in the video.
Rana’s parents, especially his father Ashok Rana, have cared for him continuously since the accident that left him in a coma. Residents of Rajnagar Extension and members of the local society have often spoken about the family’s dedication over the years, with support from the Brahma Kumaris spiritual community. On March 13, spiritual leader Sister Kumari Lovely Didi visited their home to offer prayers and performed a traditional tilak ritual.
The case is considered significant as it represents India’s first court-approved instance of passive euthanasia involving the withdrawal of not only ventilator support but also feeding tubes and other forms of artificial medical assistance. The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, who stated that life support could be withdrawn in a hospital setting so that Rana could die with dignity.
Rana, a former engineering student at Panjab University and a football enthusiast, suffered severe head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in 2013.
Speaking after the judgment, Ashok Rana said the decision would not reduce the family’s grief but could offer guidance to others facing similar situations. He added that the ruling may provide a path for families struggling with the emotional and ethical challenges of prolonged and irreversible medical conditions.
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