Mumbai: In a landmark move aimed at strengthening patient rights and modernising healthcare governance, Maharashtra is set to become the first state in India to maintain digitised records of living wills, also known as advance medical directives.
The initiative seeks to establish a centralised digital registry where individuals can securely store their end-of-life medical preferences. This will ensure that a person’s wishes regarding life-support and critical care are respected, even when they are unable to communicate.
What is a Living Will?
A living will is a legal document that allows individuals to outline the type of medical treatment they wish to receive—or refuse—if they become terminally ill or incapacitated. The concept was recognised by the Supreme Court of India in the landmark Common Cause vs Union of India judgment, which upheld the right to die with dignity and legalised passive euthanasia under strict guidelines.
Key Features of the Digital Initiative
According to officials, the proposed system will:
Create a secure, state-wide database of registered living wills
Enable instant access for authorised hospitals and doctors during emergencies
Provide verification mechanisms to ensure authenticity of documents
Integrate with healthcare institutions and relevant authorities
This digital platform is expected to eliminate delays and confusion in critical medical situations by giving doctors immediate clarity on a patient’s preferences.
Why This Matters
The digitisation of living wills is seen as a major reform with wide-ranging benefits:
Patient autonomy: Individuals retain control over their medical decisions
Legal clarity: Doctors can act without fear of legal repercussions
Reduced family burden: Families are spared difficult decisions in critical moments
Efficient care: Avoids unnecessary or unwanted medical interventions
Background
Although living wills have been legally recognised since 2018, adoption has remained limited due to procedural complexity and lack of awareness. In 2023, the Supreme Court of India simplified the process, but the absence of a central storage system continued to pose challenges.
Maharashtra’s initiative addresses this gap by combining legal backing with digital infrastructure.
Implementation and Way Forward
The state government is expected to roll out a system that allows:
Online registration of living wills
Authentication through authorised officials or witnesses
Easy retrieval by hospitals when required
Experts believe the move could serve as a model for other states, paving the way for a nationwide digital framework for advance medical directives.
