PASSIVE EUTHANASIA
Thanks to Aruna Shanbaug, who was ailing for 42 years, the rest of the country could receive this remarkable judgement from the SC (Passive euthanasia gets apex court nod, DC, March, 10). Dr Vijay Anand Reddy of Apollo Cancer Institute also needs to be appreciated for recognising that euthanasia amounts to playing god when the case is beyond the capacity of doctors’ to help. Parimi Syamala Devi
Hyderabad The apex court’s judgement on passive euthanasia is welcome. But the guidelines are cumbersome. In this country, when people don’t write even a will how can they contemplate executing a “living will”? No one likes to lead a vegetative life, but executing a “living will” will be difficult. Dinanath Shenolikar Hyderabad Kudos to the SC on the decision for giving the nod to passive euthanasia. Patients critically ill don’t even feel that they are alive, let alone enjoy life. The family around them may want to provide the best of treatment, but there is a limit to how much medicines and doctors can help. In such situations, it should be okay to wind up medical treatment to end their suffering and let them pass away peacefully. D. Manoj Kumar Secunderabad It was a landmark day for the judiciary to recognise “death with dignity” as an integral part of right to life. The verdict will come as a relief to many patients and families who are struggling to keep their loved kin alive against all odds. Md Sohail Nawaz Hyderabad
IS IT NOT SUICIDE?
Birth and death is in the hands of God. The complex judgement of Supreme Court about “dying with dignity” and right to die is in effect suicide or “Akalmrityu” as it is locally called. Everybody, including seriously ill patients, must a strong will to fight for life. Suresh Dubay Hyderabad
QUIT ALLIANCE
The decision by the TD to withdraw its ministers from the Centre was taken in a hurry soon after CM N. Chandrababu Naidu met his MPs and MLAs but was the right thing to do. Now, it is more or less clear that its alliance with the BJP alliance is over for all practical purposes. The party must also propose a No-Confidence Motion in Parliament against the BJP-led government. V. Seshamani Hyderabad
DEBT CRISIS
The huge debt crisis of regional parties puts one in confusion, particularly when there is three-fold increase in the assets. The position of the TRS as the highest declarer of liabilities to the extent of `15.97 crore is unbelievable and unacceptable. If these are audited figures then we need to know how they plan to pay up such a huge liability. Varadachari P Secunderabad