passive euthanasia

It is essentially a document that sets out a patient's wishes regarding how they want to be treated if they are seriously ill. With this judgement, the right to die with dignity has been recognised as a fundamental right.

"Human beings have the right to die with dignity," the bench said while announcing the ruling.

As early as in 1981, in the case of Francis Coralie Mullin vs. Administrator, Union Territory of Delhi, the Apex Court held in very clear terms that right to life does not mean a mere animal existence of the human being.