30 Sept 2024 • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released draft guidelines titled “Guidelines for withdrawal of life support in terminally ill patient” for the withdrawal of life support in terminally ill patients.

The draft stated, “A considered decision in a patient's best interests, to stop or discontinue ongoing life support in a terminally ill disease that is no longer likely to benefit the patient or is likely to harm in terms of causing suffering and loss of dignity.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS According to the draft guidelines, the withdrawal of life support includes four conditions:

• The individual must be declared brainstem dead as per the THOA Act
• Medical prognostication must indicate that the patient's condition is advanced and unlikely to benefit from aggressive therapeutic interventions.
• The patient or surrogate must document an informed refusal, following prognostic awareness, to continue life support.
• There must be compliance with procedures prescribed by the Supreme Court.

The Union ministry has invited feedback and suggestions by the mid of next month.

Source: MoHFW | Read full story