The Union Health Ministry has published preliminary guidelines regarding passive euthanasia. The document, titled 'Draft Guidelines for Withdrawal of Life Support in Terminally Ill Patients', was released by the ministry, inviting feedback and suggestions from stakeholders until October 20. The draft defines terminal illness as a condition that is irreversible or incurable, leading to imminent death in the near future. The guidelines are centered around four key conditions: confirmation of brainstem death, medical opinion indicating the lack of benefit from further aggressive treatments, documented refusal by the patient or surrogate after being informed of the prognosis, and compliance with the procedures mandated by the Supreme Court.

Responding to the draft, Dr. R V Asokan, the National President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), expressed that such clinical decisions have historically been made in good faith by doctors. Dr. Asokan emphasized the importance of involving patients' families in the decision-making process and determining the best course of action based on individual cases. He underscored the need for clinical decisions to be guided by science and the unique circumstances of each case.

Passive euthanasia involves deliberately refraining from or discontinuing medical treatments or life-sustaining measures, allowing the patient to pass away naturally due to their underlying condition. This may include ceasing interventions like ventilators, feeding tubes, or medications that sustain life. In contrast to active euthanasia, which involves taking direct actions to induce death, passive euthanasia permits death to transpire by refraining from intervening in the natural progression of the illness.The act of passive euthanasia is often contemplated for individuals with terminal illnesses, minimal chances of recovery, or those in a persistent vegetative state. Decisions regarding passive euthanasia are typically based on the patient's wishes, advance directives, or determined by family members and healthcare proxies when the patient is unable to make decisions for themselves. While this practice raises ethical concerns, it is permitted in many countries, subject to strict guidelines and conditions. The impact of stress on skin and hair is an important consideration within healthcare.Euthanasia is a legal practice in various countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland (where assisted suicide is also allowed), Canada (which permits both euthanasia and assisted suicide), and specific states in the U.S. like Oregon, Washington, and California (where assisted suicide is only allowed under certain regulations). Colombia has also legalized euthanasia, each jurisdiction setting specific criteria such as terminal illness or unbearable suffering for the lawful implementation of euthanasia or assisted suicide.