If you have lived a full life, death can be beautiful: Iravati Lavate

Mumbai: City-based elderly couple Narayan Lavate (86) and his wife Iravati Lavate (79), who had written to the President’s office, seeking permission for ‘active euthanasia,’ are ‘dissatisfied’ with the Supreme Court’s judgment on Friday, which allowed only ‘passive euthanasia’ with a set of guidelines to govern it when permitted.

The couple is dismayed at not being eligible for it as they do not suffer from ant terminal illness. In passive euthanasia, medical treatment to a terminally-ill patient is withdrawn to hasten their death. The couple is still hoping that the President may grant their wish for active euthanasia, wherein a person is killed with an overdose of pain-killers.

Talking to The Asian Age, Ms Lavate, who is a retired school principal said, “We wrote a letter to the President’s office, so we are excepting a decision from that side and not the Supreme Court judgement.”

She added, “Even though we do not have any terminal illness, the fact remains that we have lead a good and satisfactory life and we thoroughly believe that there is nothing more we wish to do.” The couple does not wish to be a “burden” on anyone if their health takes a downward turn.

The couple does not have any children. “In the early days of our marriage, my husband and I decided not to have children. We don’t regret that decision as we lived a healthy life,” she said.

“Now that we are not able to contribute to society, and before our health deteriorates, we want to have a harmless and peaceful death,” Ms Lavate, who was principal of Aryan High school at Charni Road for 37 years, said.