Harish Rana, India's First Person To Be Allowed Passive Euthanasia, Dies In AIIMS-Delhi
Harish Rana, 32, was in coma for 13 years after he fell from the fourth-floor balcony when he was a student in Chandigarh.
Published : March 24, 2026 at 4:48 PM IST
|Updated : March 24, 2026 at 9:30 PM IST
New Delhi/Ghaziabad: Harish Rana, India's first person to be allowed passive euthanasia, passed away in AIIMS-Delhi after more than 13 years in coma, on Tuesday (March 24).
AIIMS, in a statement issued, said, "Mr Harish Rana passed away at 4.10 PM on 24th March, 2026, at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was under the care of a dedicated team of doctors and was admitted to the Palliative Oncology Unit (IRCH) led by Dr (Prof.) Seema Mishra, HoD, Anaesthesia. AIIMS extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time."
Rana, whose family lives in Ghaziabad, had been bedridden since August 2013, waging a battle between life and death. On March 11, the Supreme Court issued directives for administering euthanasia to him, along with specific instructions regarding the procedure that was to be followed.
After being admitted on March 14, the process of passive euthanasia of Harish Rana started from March 16. In the first phase, feeding through the tube was first stopped. After this, the water was turned off. Since then, doctors were constantly monitoring his condition.
He was admitted to the palliative care ward of the IRCH (Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital) of AIIMS. The family had taken the decision of organ donation. Rana was bedridden for the last 13 years and was fighting a battle between life and death.
On March 11, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan had said it is the first judicial implementation of its 2018 Common Cause ruling recognising the right to die with dignity.
Welcoming the decision of the Apex court, Harish's father Ashok Rana had said. "We thank the judiciary, lawyers and the doctors who supported us during our son's treatment. Following the court’s order, the Supreme Court’s medical board examined him and confirmed that he is brain dead."
Rana's last rites would be performed at Green Park cremetorium in South Delhi on Wednesday at 9 AM.
After the news of his demise spread, some of his relatives reached his house in Rajnagar Extension area in Ghaziabad to offer their condolences. Tejas Chaturvedi, a friend of Harish Rana's brother, said, "When the residents of the society came to know about the death of Harish, there was a wave of grief. We pray for the departed soul," he said.
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