Living will implementation lags in India

Living Will:

• Legal in India since 2018, allow terminally ill patients to withhold or withdraw treatment and die with dignity.

Key concerns in implementation:

• Implementation of the Supreme Court’s process is scarce due to bureaucratic complexities and lack of state guidance.
• Local governments lag in designating custodians for living wills.
• Pending protocol from the National Health Authority hinders authentication through digital health records.
• Treatment decisions require certification by medical boards, complicating patient autonomy.
• Ambiguities in guidelines and lack of clear legal definitions contribute to officials’ reluctance to implement without detailed state directives.

The way ahead:

• Central government can support states by developing and publishing model orders and protocols.
• Effective guidance and persistent action from all levels of government are crucial for doctors to act in patients’ best interests.

Source: The Hindu