AP Frames Comprehensive Passive Euthanasia Framework for Terminally Ill

In a landmark healthcare reform aimed at safeguarding the right to die with dignity , the Andhra Pradesh Government has issued comprehensive guidelines for implementing passive euthanasia for terminally ill patients. The new framework, approved by Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav , translates the Supreme Court's directives into a clear operational procedure, offering hospitals, doctors and families a legally sound process for withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in cases where recovery is medically impossible.

The guidelines seek to ensure that patients suffering from irreversible and incurable illnesses , particularly those surviving solely on ventilators or other life-support systems, receive compassionate and dignified end-of-life care. Officials said the procedure incorporates multiple layers of medical, legal and administrative oversight to prevent misuse while respecting the patient's wishes.

A central feature of the policy is the Advance Medical Directive (AMD) , or living will , through which an individual can specify future treatment preferences and nominate a guardian to make healthcare decisions if they become incapable of doing so. The document must be authenticated by a Notary Public or a Gazetted Officer , giving legal recognition to the patient's choices.

If treating doctors conclude that continued treatment offers no meaningful medical benefit, a Primary Medical Board , consisting of the treating physician and two doctors with at least five years' experience, must assess the patient's condition within 48 hours . If it recommends withdrawal of life-support, the case will be reviewed independently by a Secondary Medical Board , comprising the treating doctor, the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) and two senior specialists not involved in the patient's treatment.

The withdrawal of life-support can proceed only after both medical boards unanimously approve the decision and the patient's guardian provides informed consent . Before treatment is discontinued, the hospital must officially notify the First-Class Magistrate , ensuring complete legal transparency. If the secondary board rejects the request, the guardian may approach the High Court , which can appoint an independent panel of experienced doctors to review the case.

The government has also directed hospitals to preserve all medical records and consent documents for three years . While active euthanasia remains illegal in India , the new guidelines operationalise the Supreme Court's recognition of passive euthanasia and the constitutional right to die with dignity under Article 21 , providing long-awaited clarity for healthcare professionals handling sensitive end-of-life decisions.