Harish Rana, who spent 13 years in a coma and became the face of a landmark legal battle on the right to die with dignity, died at AIIMS Delhi on Tuesday, bringing an end to a long and painful vigil for his family. Rana had remained in a persistent vegetative state since 2013, surviving on life-support systems with no signs of recovery. His death closes a deeply emotional chapter for his family, who had stayed by his side for over a decade, hoping for a miracle that never came.
Hospital sources said Rana had been under prolonged medical care, with doctors earlier confirming that there was no realistic chance of improvement in his
condition. As his case drew national attention, his family approached the Supreme Court seeking permission for passive euthanasia. This plea followed years of treatment and mounting medical evidence that his condition was irreversible.