Medical law: euthanasia in India: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Medical law: euthanasia in India

Sample item

In a patient in a permanent vegetative state, which of the following acts remains unlawful in India after the Supreme Court judgments in Aruna Shanbaug (2011) and Common Cause (2018)?

AHonouring an advance directive refusing resuscitationBWithholding of life-sustaining treatment as per a valid living willCWithdrawal of ventilation on the advice of a medical boardDAdministering a lethal injection of potassium chloride to end life

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Administering a lethal injection of potassium chloride to end life

The Supreme Court has permitted passive euthanasia, meaning withholding or withdrawing life support in carefully defined circumstances, with safeguards such as medical boards and living wills under the right to die with dignity. Active euthanasia, in which a drug is given deliberately to cause death, remains a criminal offence. A lethal injection falls in the second category.

Option by option

A. Honouring an advance directive refusing resuscitation
Honouring an advance directive refusing resuscitation is within the guidelines.
B. Withholding of life-sustaining treatment as per a valid living will
Withholding treatment under a valid living will is recognised by the courts.
C. Withdrawal of ventilation on the advice of a medical board
Withdrawal of ventilation after board approval is permitted passive euthanasia.
D. Administering a lethal injection of potassium chloride to end life (correct)
Correct. Deliberately causing death with a lethal drug is active euthanasia and remains illegal.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Administering a lethal injection of potassium chloride to end life. The Supreme Court has permitted passive euthanasia, meaning withholding or withdrawing life support in carefully defined circumstances, with safeguards such as medical boards and living wills under the right to die with dignity.

Why is "Honouring an advance directive refusing resuscitation" not the answer?

Honouring an advance directive refusing resuscitation is within the guidelines.

Why is "Withholding of life-sustaining treatment as per a valid living will" not the answer?

Withholding treatment under a valid living will is recognised by the courts.

Why is "Withdrawal of ventilation on the advice of a medical board" not the answer?

Withdrawal of ventilation after board approval is permitted passive euthanasia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical law: euthanasia in India in Forensic Medicine. Active euthanasia, in which a drug is given deliberately to cause death, remains a criminal offence. A lethal injection falls in the second category.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Medical law: euthanasia in India?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.