On Friday, Supreme Court of India in their landmark ruling allowed passive euthanasia. The SC stated that humans have the right to die with dignity but made sure to set out strict guidelines that will govern when it should be permitted. But this historic judgement made by the SC is not welcomed by Narayan and Iravati Lavate and said that they were ‘not fully satisfied’ with the order. The Mumbai-based elderly couple had previously approached the President of India seeking permission for active euthanasia or assisted suicide. They suggested that the government should come up with a policy for people above the age of 75 to be given the right to euthanasia.

“We’re not fully satisfied with the SC judgement. People above 75 years of age should be given the right to euthanasia. The details of these people can be verified from the doctors and police. Such a policy should be implemented," said Narayan Lavate. Conveying her displeasure on the verdict, Iravati said, “Why are they forcing us to get terminally ill and await a painful death or take an extreme step of committing suicide? Our organs are functional enough to be donated. We want to donate our organs before it is too late.” Narayan, 88 and Iravati, 78 are not suffering from any life-long ailments. The couple says they wish for assisted suicide as they do not want to be dependent on hospitals or spend rest of their lives in an old-age home. Their request is also driven by the satisfaction of having lived a happy life together and the two also fear having to live without the other. The couple lives in a small one-room-kitchen chawl in Girgaum.

The SC recognised the ‘living will’ of terminally ill patients and allowed passive euthanasia. Passive euthanasia is a condition where there is withdrawal of medical treatment with the deliberate intention to hasten the death of a terminally-ill patient. In a ‘living will’, the SC has permitted a person to make a statement in advance that their life should not be prolonged by putting them on ventilator or an artificial support system should he slip into coma. The couple now awaits the deadline from the day they filed the petition to government in December seeking a reply to active euthanasia from the state government. The couple said that if the state government fails to furnish an answer they will file for contempt of court. While the verdict is celebrated in India, several other countries have already successfully implemented it in the past.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 10, 2018 03:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).