The panels will decide on applications of "Living will", a written document that allows patients to explicitly state their desire against life-prolonging measures when recovery is not possible from a terminal condition.
The redrafted bill also provides for palliative care to patients even if they have opted for passive euthanasia, which is the withdrawal of medical treatment and life support system of a terminally-ill patient.
"It also calls for imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore in case of misrepresentation of facts or placing forged documents before the approval committees," provisions of the redrafted bill state.
A senior health ministry official clarified that the redrafted bill does not encourage active euthanasia.
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"All provisions of the bill only support passive euthanasia. Passive euthanasia involves giving the right to patients to withhold medical treatment or life support system in the face of an irreversible terminal illness, while active euthanasia is the acceleration of death using injections or overdose of drugs," he said.
The redrafted bill terms death from passive euthanasia a "natural death".
It also has provisions for the protection of competent patients (those who can take decisions on their future treatment), medical practitioners and care givers, who will not be considered guilty for the act of passive euthanasia.
"The bill also provides for unanimous consent of near relatives to apply for withholding or withdrawing of medical treatment of 'incompetent' terminally ill patient," the official said.
"Around 70 per cent of the people supported passive euthanasia while giving their suggestions," the official added.
The Centre, in October, submitted a draft bill to the the Supreme Court, which said there should be adequate safeguards, while the implementation of a living will would be subject to a medical board which would certify if the patient's comatose state was irreversible.
The apex court had recognised passive euthanasia in 2011 in Aruna Shanbaug's case by which it had permitted the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from patients not in a position to make an informed decision.
Shanbaug, a former Mumbai nurse, was in a coma for 42 years after a sexual assault and declared dead in 2015.
The Supreme Court in its judgment in 2011 laid down comprehensive guidelines on passive euthanasia and said the process should be followed all over the country until a law was enacted in this regard.
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