Harish Rana case and euthanasia, those 5 countries of the world where dignified death can be given legally

News India Live, Digital Desk: Recently, Harish Rana’s case has sparked a new debate across the country regarding ‘Euthanasia’. 36-year-old Harish Rana has been in a vegetative state for the last 11 years, following which his parents have approached the court seeking euthanasia for him. While there are strict rules regarding ‘Passive Euthanasia’ in India, there are some countries in the world where people suffering from incurable diseases legally have the right to end their lives. Let us know about those 5 major countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide is completely legal: 1. Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia in April 2002. The rules here are quite strict. The patient must be in unbearable pain for which there is no cure, and he must express his wishes in full consciousness.2. Belgium Belgium also legalized euthanasia in 2002. The special thing is that in 2014, Belgium became the first country in the world to allow euthanasia (under certain circumstances) even for children, provided they are suffering from a serious illness and there is no end to their suffering.3. Colombia: Colombia is at the forefront in this matter among South American countries. There was discussion about euthanasia here since 1997, but it was officially regularized in 2015. In 2021, the court here also gave this right to those people who are struggling not only with terminal illness but also with other serious physical problems.4. Luxembourg: This European country legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in March 2009. Here also the condition is that the patient has a disease whose treatment is not possible and he is in unbearable physical or mental pain.5. Switzerland: Switzerland is most unique in this matter. Here ‘assisted suicide’ (suicide with the help of a doctor) has been legal since 1942. There are organizations like ‘Dignitas’ which help those who want a dignified death. Even people from other countries go to Switzerland for this procedure. What does Indian law say? In India, ‘passive euthanasia’ (removing the patient’s life support system) was allowed by the Supreme Court in 2018, but ‘active euthanasia’ (killing someone by injecting poison) is still illegal. The case of Harish Rana has once again brought this complex legal and ethical issue into focus in India.