New Guidelines Ensure Dignified Natural Death for Terminally Ill Patients in Andhra Pradesh
Following the Supreme Court's landmark 2018 judgment recognising the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right under Article 21, the Andhra Pradesh government has taken a significant step to provide relief to patients suffering from severe illnesses with no prospects of recovery.
On Wednesday (July 8, 2026), Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav approved a set of guidelines governing the withdrawal of life support for terminally ill patients, after discussing the subject with senior officials. These guidelines aim to ensure that terminally ill patients receive a dignified natural death through the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
According to a press release from the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, until now, there were no formal guidelines in place, which created confusion among doctors and caregivers. The new guidelines provide a clear framework.
The guidelines first require doctors to check for an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) when a patient becomes terminally ill. An AMD is a written declaration made by a person while healthy, stating how they wish to be treated or not to be treated if they lose decision-making capacity. Such directives must be prepared and signed voluntarily and in sound mind, in the presence of two independent witnesses, and attested before a Notary or Gazetted Officer. A copy must be handed to the local authority (Municipality, Corporation, or Panchayat), which will appoint a custodian.
The guidelines also mandate the formation of primary and secondary medical boards by the treating hospital to make decisions. The decision of both boards and consent from nominated persons are required before withdrawal of treatment can proceed.
In the absence of an AMD, the treating hospital must constitute a Primary Medical Board and discuss with the family physician (if any) and the patient's next of kin or guardian the pros and cons of withdrawal or refusal of further medical treatment. If the guardian gives written consent to withdraw life support, the Primary Medical Board forms an opinion and informs the Secondary Medical Board, which also examines the patient. If both boards agree, the process can go ahead. If they refuse, the nominated person or guardian may approach the High Court.
Officials including Director of Medical Education A. Vishnu Vardhan, Director of Secondary Health K.V.N. Chakradhar, and District Medical and Health Officers have been asked to oversee these processes and ensure compliance with the guidelines.
