The Supreme Court praised the family of Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man, for donating his organs following his death. Rana, a Ghaziabad resident, had been in a permanent vegetative state for nearly 13 years before life support was withdrawn as per a court judgment. His heart valve and corneas were donated after his passing, with the court acknowledging the family’s generosity despite their loss. The court highlighted that Rana’s memory would live on through the lives touched by his organ donations.
The bench, led by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan, noted the dignity and autonomy in Rana’s peaceful passing without prolonged dependence on medical support. It emphasized the limitations of medicine and the importance of respecting an individual’s wishes and dignity in end-of-life care. The court directed the preservation of Rana’s death certificate and the submission of a status report by AIIMS to be kept sealed. It also expressed gratitude to the medical professionals at AIIMS and the legal representatives involved in the case.
The Supreme Court had earlier allowed the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for Rana, who had suffered severe head injuries in an accident. Medical experts had confirmed his permanent vegetative state with minimal chances of recovery. After the High Court and later the Supreme Court permitted the withdrawal of treatment, Rana was shifted to the palliative care unit at AIIMS, where he eventually passed away.
