Karnataka decides to allow terminally ill to die with dignity

• Karnataka Health Department orders implementation of Supreme Court’s ruling allowing terminally ill patients to die with dignity.

• This is the second state after Kerala to follow this decision.

• The move will benefit those in persistent vegetative states and those no longer benefiting from life-sustaining treatment.

• The state will follow the procedure laid down by the Supreme Court, withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment with the doctor’s approval.

• The hospital must set up primary and secondary medical boards, with decisions made after obtaining patient’s next of kin or the person nominated in the patient’s advance medical directive.