LANDMARK CASE
Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug v. Union of India
(2011) 4 SCC 454 · Supreme Court of India · Medical law
At a glance
- Citation: (2011) 4 SCC 454
- Court: Supreme Court of India
- Area of law: Medical law
- In one line: Passive euthanasia was allowed with High Court approval, but not in her case.
1 Facts
A nurse in a vegetative state for decades was the subject of a plea for euthanasia.
2 Issue
Is passive euthanasia permissible?
3 What the court decided
Passive euthanasia was allowed with High Court approval, but not in her case.
4 Why it matters
It paved the way for Common Cause (2018).
5 Think about it
Why did the Court refuse in Aruna's own case?
6 Analyse it yourself
Read the full judgment from an official source or a law database, then brief it in seven steps: facts, issues, arguments, decision, ratio, obiter and significance. Always check the citation before you rely on it.
7 More cases on Medical law
- Parmanand Katara v. Union of India (1989) 4 SCC 286
- Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v. State of West Bengal (1996) 4 SCC 37
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A short teaching summary for students. Educational content only, not legal advice.