Church welcomes Supreme Court verdict on mercy killing

The Supreme Court dismissing the plea for mercy killing of a nurse was today welcomed by the Church.

A bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra rejected a petition seeking mercy killing for Aruna Shanbaug, a former nurse who has been lying in a vegetative state in a Mumbai hospital bed for the last 37 years.

"We endorse the Supreme Court judgment. We strongly oppose mercy killing," said Fr Babu Joseph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).

Aruna slipped into coma after a sexual attack on her by a staffer at Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital on November 27, 1973. Since then, she has been looked after by the medical staff at the hospital where she lies unable to talk or move on her own.

"We want to do everything to sustain life. People who are differently abled have greater right to be treated with dignity," said Fr Joseph.

Rev. Christopher Rajkumar, Secretary of Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) also concurred with the same.

"Life is the gift of God. Nobody has the right to give or take life other than God. We simply can't discard such people from our faith journey," he said.

He added: "We must believe in care and support. The love of Christ could be exhibited by serving the terminally ill patients."

Justice Katju in his ruling on Monday said that active euthanasia is illegal as there is no statutory provision to support it.

However, the apex court for the first time endorsed "passive euthanasia" which it said should be done under the supervision of the High Court.

Passive euthanasia is usually defined as withdrawing medical treatment with the deliberate intention of causing the patient's death.

In its 110-page judgement, the apex court said the high court will have to set up a medical panel before permitting passive euthanasia and it will be the law of the land till Parliament enacts appropriate law on the issue of mercy killing.

Meanwhile, Aruna's former colleagues and nurses expressed joy at the Supreme Court's verdict today.

"We consider it as a duty to look after her. The court has recognised our efforts," media quoted Aruna's former associate, Pamela Kushe, as saying.