Medical Life Support Withdrawal and Assisted Deaths: Social, Ethical and Legal Issues

Center for Human Dignity and Development (CHDD), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi invites you to the #WebPolicyTalk series:

The State of Human Dignity and Development – #InclusiveDevelopment

A Panel Discussion on

Medical Life Support Withdrawal and Assisted Deaths: Social, Ethical and Legal Issues

A critical discussion on medical life support withdrawal and assisted deaths in India, examining the social realities, ethical dilemmas, and evolving legal framework shaping end-of-life decision-making.

Live Video: https://youtube.com/live/JZP9E3q6FHg
HQ Video: https://youtu.be/n7PdDUbOay4

Podcast: Spotify | YouTube Music

Details of the #WebPolicyTalk:
Date: January 21st, 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 4 – 5:30 PM IST
Platform: Zoom | YouTube Live @ YouTube.com/@impriindia | Spotify

Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GCoeO1MtRDaoFoktdw47ig

About

Decisions around withdrawal of medical life support and assisted deaths in India involve complex clinical judgments, evolving legal standards, and deeply embedded social and ethical considerations. From the physician’s standpoint, end-of-life care raises difficult questions around prognosis, medical futility, patient autonomy, and professional responsibility, particularly in contexts where palliative care remains unevenly integrated into the health system. This discussion will reflect on the role of the treating physician in navigating these challenges while balancing clinical ethics, patient dignity, and family expectations.

Equally critical are the legal frameworks and socio-cultural contexts that shape end-of-life decision-making in India. With Supreme Court rulings on passive euthanasia, living wills, and informed consent, the legal landscape continues to evolve, yet gaps persist in implementation and awareness. Alongside legal clarity, ethical concerns related to autonomy, vulnerability, socio-economic inequities, and cultural attitudes towards death and dying remain central. This session brings together legal and ethical perspectives to examine how law, policy, and social realities intersect, and what this means for ensuring compassionate, rights-based, and ethically sound end-of-life care in India.

Objectives

• To examine the role and responsibilities of physicians in decisions related to withdrawal of life support and end-of-life care
• To analyse the current legal framework in India governing assisted deaths, passive euthanasia, and living wills
• To explore the ethical dilemmas and socio-cultural factors influencing end-of-life decision-making for patients and families
• To identify gaps between legal provisions, medical practice, and social realities in end-of-life care
• To encourage informed dialogue on strengthening ethical, legal, and compassionate approaches to end-of-life care in India

Program Experts

Chair & Moderator: Dr Amar Jesani, Independent Researcher and Teacher (Bioethics and Public Health); Editor, Indian Journal of Medical Ethics; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI

Expert Panelists

Dr Dhvani Mehta, Co-Founder and Lead, Health, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

Dr Kaustubh Joag, Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, ILS, Pune

Dr Sunita VS Bandewar, Director, Health, Ethics and Law Institute for Training Research and Advocacy (HEaL Institute)

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Medical Life Support Withdrawal and Assisted Deaths: Social, Ethical and Legal Issues | Panel Discussion | January 2026 | #InclusiveDevelopment