A woman has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to stop her 48-year-old male friend from going to Europe, allegedly to undergo euthanasia.
The petition, filed by a Bengaluru resident, contended that the man (Respondent no 3) was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – a complex, debilitating, long-term neuro inflammatory disease in 2014.
Since then, his condition has worsened so much so that he is now completely bed-ridden.
The plea further said that the man has already travelled to Switzerland, which provides physician-assisted suicide, for psychological evaluation.
The procedure is not available in India unless a medical board suggests that the patient is suffering from a terminal disease and has reached a point of no return, it added.
As per the plea, the man’s application has been accepted and was now only awaiting a final decision, which was likely to come by the end of August.
Despite having no financial constraints for availing better treatment, either in India or abroad, the man was adamant on his decision to go for Euthanasia, which was likely to affect the life of his old parents, it added.
Stating that a ray of hope still persisted, the petitioner sought direction to the Union Minister of External Affairs (MEA) to reject the emigration clearance to the man, since he has made false claims before Indian as well as foreign authorities for getting travel clearance.
The petition, filed through Advocate Subhash Chandran KR, further sought direction to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to constitute a medical board for examining the man’s health and provide him with necessary assistance, considering his peculiar health condition.
The plea was likely to be taken up next week.