Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Far too many minefields” (September 19).
Scientist Stephen Hawking, himself a patient of motor neurone disease, has stirred a hornets’ nest by changing his stand on euthanasia and offering it conditional support now. In India, campaigners for euthanasia faced disappointment when the apex court turned down social activist Pinki Virani’s plea for the mercy-killing of Aruna Shanbaug who has been on life-support system for four decades. As far as India is concerned, only ‘passive euthanasia’ should be considered and allowed under inevitable circumstances.