Woman moves Delhi High Court to stop her friend's Europe trip to undergo Euthanasia

A Bengaluru woman has approached the Delhi High Court to stop her 48-year-old male friend’s trip to Europe to allegedly undergo euthanasia..This procedure is not available in India unless a medical board suggests that the patient is suffering from a terminal disease and has reached a point of no return..The High Court has been informed that the man was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - a complex, debilitating, long-term neuro inflammatory disease – in 2014, and since then, his condition has worsened so much so that he is now completely bed-ridden.It has been stated that the man has already travelled once to Switzerland, which provides physician-assisted suicide, for psychological evaluation. According to the information available with the petitioner, the man's application has been accepted and is now only awaiting a final decision. This decision is likely to come by the end of August, the plea stated.“It is pertinent to mention that there are no financial constraints for providing Respondent No.3 (the patient) with better treatments within India or abroad. But he is now adamant on his decision to go for Euthanasia, which also affect the life of age old parents miserably. It is humbly submitted that there still persists a ray of hope for the betterment of his condition,” the petition said..The petition thus sought a direction to the Union Minister of External Affairs (MEA) to reject emigration clearance to the man since he has made false claims before Indian as well as foreign authorities for getting travel clearance.The petitioner also sought a direction to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to constitute a medical board to examine the man’s health and provide necessary assistance, considering his peculiar health condition..The petition filed through Advocate Subhash Chandran KR is likely to be heard next week..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.