CHENNAI: Behind the locked doors of ward number 4 at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital lives, actually ‘lies,’ a 66-year-old Aruna Shanbaug, a victim of brutal assault. The four-walled hospital room has been her home for the last 41 years. No outsiders, especially from the media are allowed to visit her. Human rights activist Pinki Virani’s petition to the SC on allowing Aruna passive euthanasia raised many an eyebrow and discussions. Following this, the Supreme Court legalised passive euthanasia, but laid down guidelines. Documentary filmmaker Chetan Shah released his latest documentary film on the subject, titled Passive Euthanasia – Kahaani Karuna Ki (a story of compassion) at the Goethe Institut on Friday.
“I had a friend who died of cancer, it was then that I decided to make a movie on passive euthanasia,” said Chetan. In the film, he has used a lot of poetry and stylised art forms, portraying emotion through dance.
Kahaani Karuna Ki portrays the life of Aruna Shanbaug by speaking to the lawyers who were handling the case, Pinki Virani herself, and a cancer-afflicted resident of the city who decided to taper off life support, to have a dignified death.
While the movie discussed passive euthanasia and living wills, it was centered on Aruna Shanbaug.
“We had to steal the shots at KEM Hospital; they just wouldn’t talk to us. Everybody including the nurses refused to comment on Aruna’s issue,” the filmmaker revealed. The hope is that this film will help people ponder awhile on the subject. People need to understand that tapering off the feed is a legitimate mode of passive euthanasia. Many people these days have specified their needs in living wills,” said Chetan Shah,
According to the director, there is a need for a legal clarity so that medical practitioners all over the country can treat patients ethically and take ethically right decisions.
“Today, many doctors are wary of it,” he says. Chetan also feels that it is very important to talk about these issues in areas where people consider speaking about death a ‘taboo.’ “I personally believe that everybody has the right to lead a quality life and have a dignified death,” Chetan concludes, leaving us with something to think about.