Supreme Court-Approved Euthanasia Case Concludes with Harish Rana’s Last Rites

Harish Rana, a resident of Ghaziabad who was granted euthanasia by the Supreme Court, was cremated on Wednesday. His younger brother Ashish performed the last rites at around 9:40 am at the Green Park cremation ground in Delhi. Prior to the cremation, Rana’s body was brought to the cremation site, where family members paid their final respects. His father, Ashok Rana (62), offered an emotional tribute and appealed to those present not to mourn but to pray for his son’s peace, expressing hope that he would be blessed in his next life. The 31-year-old passed away on March 24 at AIIMS, Delhi, after remaining in a coma for 13 years. According to doctors, his family donated his lungs, both kidneys, and corneas, a gesture expected to give a new lease of life to six individuals. Rana was administered passive euthanasia at AIIMS. This involves withdrawing or withholding life-support systems or medical treatment that keep a critically ill patient alive, allowing natural death. The Supreme Court had granted approval for euthanasia on March 11, marking the first such case in the country. Rana was shifted from his residence in Ghaziabad to AIIMS, Delhi, on March 14, and his feeding tube was removed on March 16.