France, Oct. 20 -- India has begun framing guidelines on so-called "passive" euthanasia that would lay out conditions for shutting offlife support for terminally ill patients. But medical and religious organisations have expressed concerns that the norms would place too much responsibility on doctors to make decisions between life or death.

WhileIndia does not permit "active" euthanasia, which involves use of substances such as lethal injections or external force to end life, court rulings have permitted clinicians to withhold life-prolonging treatment in certain cases.

Now the government has drafted guidelines to standardise such decisions and is seeking expert feedback on the proposals.

According to the Health Ministry's draft,publis...