Yagya Bharadwaj, Chanakya National Law University
Introduction
There has been much debate and discussion on the right of an individual to die as per their wish. A person’s right to live with dignity has been recognized as a fundamental and basic human right, but the same is not the case with their right to die.
What does the right to die exactly mean? Simply put, it refers to a person’s right to refuse medical measures or methods that are meant to prolong their life. It is their right to die naturally, rather than be kept alive by artificial means when they are suffering from a disease, or are terminally ill, and are unlikely to get better without such means.
The idea of right to life is enshrined in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1, The Article reads, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.” It does not mention an individual’s right to die as part of it, which, as mentioned, has been a recurring topic of debates and discussions. Additionally, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizes the inherent right of every person to life, adding that this right "shall be protected by law" and that "no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of life"2.
