New Delhi, May 14 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that the death of Harish Rana, who became the first person in India to be allowed passive euthanasia after spending more than 13 years in a permanent vegetative state, symbolised dignity not only in life but also in death, as it received a report from AIIMS detailing his final days in palliative care. A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan said Rana's passing underscored the limits of medicine and the importance of respecting a patient's autonomy at the end of life. "It also serves as a reminder that medicine has its limits and prolonging life in ways a person would not choose themselves is not true care. Allowing someone to pass on their own terms and alleviating their suffering affirms their dignity and honours their ultimate control," noted the bench. The court recorded in its order that pursuant to its March 11 judgment permitting withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH), Rana was shifted from his Ghaziabad residence to the palliative care unit at All India Institute of Medical Sciences on March 14. He passed away there on March 24. "Harish left the mortal world on his own terms, surrounded by love and compassion," said the bench, adding that even in the face of personal loss, Rana's family chose to donate his corneas and heart valve. The court directed that Rana's death certificate dated April 7 and the report submitted by AIIMS be preserved as part of the judicial record, with the medical report kept in sealed cover....