New Delhi, Mar 12 : The government today said it was examining whether a fresh legislation was required to permit passive euthanasia against the backdrop of the Supreme Court setting out guidelines for it and rejecting a plea to allow active euthanasia.
"We need to examine the matter thoroughly...my law officers are going through the judgement to see whether a new legislation (on passive euthanasia) is required," Law Minister M Veerappa Moily told.
Meanwhile, Law Ministry officials said government may also ask the Law Commission to study the issue and come out with a report.
They said it will help the Ministry take a call on whether a fresh legislation was needed.
Attorney General Ghoolam E Vahanvati had opposed euthanasia in all forms in the apex court but the court had rejected his stand.
The apex court had earlier this month rejected a plea to allow active euthanasia (mercy killing) to Aruna Shanbaugh, a victim of sexual assault, in a Mumbai hospital and set out guidelines for passive euthanasia.
The apex court, while framing the guidelines for passive euthanasia, said it would now become the law of the land until Parliament enacts a suitable legislation to deal with the issue.
Though the Law Commission had, in a report submitted in 2006, favoured mercy killing for terminally ill patients, the Law Ministry thinks a fresh look will help clarify the issue after the SC asked the government to bring a law on euthanasia.
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