Aruna Shanbaug lay in near 42 years in vegetative state in KEM hospital where she worked as a Nurse and where she was physically assaulted and brutally beaten by another employee of the Hospital. In the Monday morning around 8.30 a.m doctors of KEM hospital declared Aruna Shanbaug dead after a bout of pneumonia.
It was year 1973 when the horrific incident took place in the KEM hospital Mumbai. She was in early 20s at the time of assault and was engaged to a resident doctor in the KEM hospital. But the night of that incident took extreme “U” turn in her life after that horrendous incident as she fell in a vegetative state for about 42 years. The death of Aruna Shanbaug once again heated up the debate of “Euthanasia” in our country. There are some cases in India where the demand of Euthanasia has gone up and loud. There are different euthanasia laws in each country. It is categorized in different ways, which include voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary. Voluntary Euthanasia is legal in some countries. But in India it is illegal in any form. Government of India or any jurisdiction is against it.
After the incident of Aruna Shanbaug many social activist and some of the prominent figures of the soicety has raised their voice in favour of Euthanasia. Speaking on this incident, famous Social Activist Mrs. Anuja Kapur said that, “Aruna Shanbaug lay in vegetative state for more than 42 years after she was sodomised by the sweeper of KEM hospital Sohanlal Bharta Valmiki on the evening of November 27,1973. The accused got away with a mere punishment of 7 years where on the other hand Aruna Suffered most of her life on a single bed for around 42 years due to the accused Sohan lal Bharta. Is this our judiciary system where accused just got away by a mere punishment and victim suffers whole of her life lying on a bed in almost dead condition. After this case of Aruna we can think of Euthanasia as it is the right to end your life with dignity and government should consider this thing as we dont know how many Aruna are facing this problem. Government should come up with a solution to help the victims who want Euthanasia”.