After 24 years of unwavering struggle, HB Karibasamma's unwavering fight for the legalisation of passive euthanasia in India has finally paid off. With Karnataka becoming the first state to grant terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity, Karibasamma now waits for the final steps to fulfil her long-standing wish.
The Karnataka government on January 30, 2025 issued a circular granting terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity.
Karibasamma’s journey began with a personal tragedy — one that altered the course of her life. Diagnosed with a slipped disc that left her unable to walk, she found herself battling not just a debilitating condition but also a legal system that denied her the right to end her suffering on her own terms. Her plight was further compounded by a recent diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
It was this personal experience that led her to delve into the global discourse on euthanasia, drawing comparisons with countries such as the Netherlands and Norway, where the practice is legally recognised. Her research only strengthened her resolve, and she decided to take her fight to the highest levels, even as she faced resistance from various quarters.
By 2010, Karibasamma had collected 10,000 signatures in support of her campaign for euthanasia and sent them to the president, prime minister and state government. During the same year, she petitioned the Supreme Court for the right to die.
Karibasamma’s crusade was not easy. Speaking about the opposition she encountered, she recalls, “Some people harassed me, saying I was going against the country’s law, but I withstood everything and continued my fight.”
Despite hostility from certain factions, she also found support from well-wishers who sympathised with her cause. Many offered financial assistance in the name of seva (service) but Karibasamma refused to accept any donations. Instead, she made a profound sacrifice — selling her own house to fund her campaign. “I have even kept aside Rs 6 lakh for the Border Security Force and am planning to contribute up to Rs 10 lakh,” she said.
Her decision, however, created a rift within her own family. “They stood against me for selling the house and opposing the government. They feared that if I was jailed, it would bring disgrace. They never let me go anywhere. So, I left my family and continued my fight from an ashram,” she said. Karibasamma now lives in an old age home in Bengaluru with her husband.
Though her struggle began as a personal quest, Karibasamma’s campaign soon expanded to include the elderly and terminally ill individuals across India. She argues that many suffer in silence, lacking the financial means to afford long-term medical care.
“I am fighting for those who are above the age of 70 or 80 and those suffering from fatal diseases with no one to support them,” she asserted. Having witnessed firsthand the plight of the elderly left to endure unrelenting pain, she became even more determined to push for passive euthanasia as a legally recognised right.
With Karnataka now acknowledging the right to die with dignity, Karibasamma is closer than ever to achieving what she set out for over two decades ago. However, she is still waiting for a final decision on when she will be permitted to exercise her right.
Karnataka is the first state in India to officially grant the right to die through assisted euthanasia. “It is a very touching situation where a human being has to be put to sleep by medical measures, but if the individual has decided to take this step, then he or she must have a compelling reason. However, as a civilised society, such measures cannot be granted to anyone merely on request,” Karnataka’s Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told Down To Earth.
There are other ways to keep a human being alive by providing the necessary support, medical or otherwise, Rao underlined. “Awarding euthanasia is a process that includes multiple agencies, including the medical system. Right now, I do not know if Karibasamma’s case will be considered or rejected. Our effort is to dissuade her from opting for it and persuade her to live her full life by restoring her confidence in life,” he said.
Karibasamma, meanwhile, is unmoved. “I have not yet been given a date,” she stressed. Until then, she remains steadfast, knowing that her struggle has paved the way for others to make informed and dignified choices about their own lives.