In a bid to prevent the harassment of doctors who withdraw life support to terminally-ill patients, the Law Commission has recommended the formation of a panel of medical experts to clear such decisions.Providing safeguards to doctors against litigation, the Commission also encouraged patients and their relatives or friends to approach the high courts and get a declaration whether the decision to continue or withdraw life support is "lawful".Once a high court has declared that a doctor's decision is "lawful", it will be binding on civil or criminal courts not to proceed against him in any matter relating to the case, the Commission said in its 434-page report "Medical Treatment to Terminally-Ill Patients (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners)".Recommending the setting up of a three-member panel of reputed medical persons having at least 20 years experience to clear decision to withdraw life support, the Commission said it should be formed as a statutory body and the names of the experts should be published in the gazette and official websites for quick access.The majority decision of the panel will prevail and would be binding on doctors, it said.Maintaining that the withdrawal of life support to terminally-ill patients has always been held lawful in all countries, the Commission sought to make it clear that this was different from euthanasia or assisted suicide, which were always "held unlawful and continue to be unlawful."
