title: Euthanasia: India's position in the global scenario.
abstract: Euthanasia requests have increased as the number of debilitated patients rises in both developed and developing countries such as India due to medical, psychosocial-emotional, socioenvironmental, and existential issues amid fears of potential misuse. WORLD'S POSITION: Albania, Colombia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland permit euthanasia conditionally. Australia's legalization of euthanasia has been withdrawn. The United States permits withdrawal of life support. Mexico and Norway permit active euthanasia. INDIA'S POSITION: Following the Aruna Shanbaug case the Supreme Court granted legal sanction to passive, but not active, euthanasia that is valid till the Parliament legislates on euthanasia. HANDLING EUTHANASIA REQUESTS: Acknowledging the complexity of the problem; individualizing the palliative approach; and accepting the 'There is no alternative' or 'There is no answer' (TINA) factor.
authors.affiliation: 1University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Skand
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shekhar
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goel
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D005065:Euthanasia; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008800:Mexico; D009426:Netherlands; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence