New Delhi, March 11 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed passive euthanasia for a 31-year-old man who has been in a comatose condition for more than 12 years, by withdrawing his artificial life support.

Passive euthanasia is the intentional act of letting a patient die by withholding or withdrawing life support or the treatment necessary to keep him alive.

Harish Rana suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of a building in 2013 and has been in a coma for over a decade.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed AIIMS to grant Rana admission to palliative careso that the medical treatment can be withdrawn. It must be ensured that it is withdrawn with a tailored plan that maintains dignity, th...