State govt. issues guidelines for Advance Medical Directives
The Tamil Nadu government has introduced guidelines for Advance Medical Directives (AMD), allowing citizens to formally document their preferences regarding end-of-life medical care. This policy aligns with Supreme Court directives to uphold patient autonomy in cases where individuals can no longer communicate their wishes.
Why it matters
This legal framework provides a clear pathway for passive euthanasia and ensures that personal healthcare decisions are respected during terminal illness.
In a significant step to strengthen patients’ autonomy in end-of-life medical care, Tamil Nadu has issued guidelines for Advance Medical Directives (AMD), allowing adults to formally record their wishes on withholding or withdrawing medical treatment at a time when they become incapable of communicating or making healthcare decisions.
The State government has issued the “Tamil Nadu Advance Medical Directive Guidelines, 2026” for the implementation of AMDs in the State. Tamil Nadu referred to a Supreme Court (SC) judgment laying down the principles relating to the procedure for the execution of AMDs, and provided guidelines to give effect to passive euthanasia where there are AMDs and where there are none.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in