Struggling with the unbearable weight of their only sons prolonged vegetative state, mounting medical expenses, and bleak hopes for recovery, the parents of a 30-year-old man made an emotional appeal to the Supreme Court on Tuesday. They requested the court to form a medical board to evaluate the possibility of removing the Ryles tube that has been sustaining their son, as a step toward passive euthanasia to end his suffering.What Is Ryles TubeA Ryles tube, a disposable tube inserted through the nose into the stomach, facilitates the delivery of food and medication. Despite the parents plea, the Supreme Court clarified that the removal of the Ryles tube does not qualify as passive euthanasia. The court warned that its removal would lead to starvation and death, stressing that Ryles tube is not a life support system.Decision By The Top CourtThe statement from the top court has come after the parents, 62-year-old Ashok Rana and 55-year-old Nirmala Devi, have endured years of hardship, both emotional and financial. Their son sustained a severe head injury and quadriplegia, resulting in 100% disability after a fall from the fourth floor of a paying guest accommodation in Mohali while pursuing his civil engineering degree. Despite their limited means, the parents sold their home in 2021 to cover the escalating medical costs.Their counsel argued before a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, that the fathers modest pension is insufficient to support the family. The bench acknowledged the Delhi High Courts earlier dismissal of the parents petition for passive euthanasia, citing that the patient is not on life support, thus making him ineligible for euthanasia as per the Supreme Courts 2018 ruling.SC Asks Centre To Examine AidThe court also urged the government to explore alternative options, stating, “Please find out if some institution can take care of this person.”The bench, moved by the parents decade-long struggle, sought the intervention of additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, requesting consultation with the Union government for a potential solution. “It is a very hard case,” remarked the Chief Justice, emphasizing the need for institutional support for the ailing man and financial relief for his parents.
