Monday, May 5, 2025

VSED for Children (Viyana Jain)

Three-year-old Viyana Jain had been suffering from a terminal brain tumor. So, her Madhya Pradesh parents initiated her (see also here) into "Santhara" (also known as "Sallekhana" or "Samadhi Maran"), a centuries-old controversial Jain practice of fasting unto death.  

This has attracted significant criticism because a child cannot consent. Indeed, the Golden Book of World Records issued a certificate in the name of Viyana for being "the youngest person in the world to vow the Jain ritual Santhara."

On the other hand, Santhara is analogous to VSED. And surrogates can and do authorize VSED for incapacitated patients. This is typically done when VSED advances the patients preferences, goals, or values. Here, since Viyana was only three years old, her parents would have to justify it based on her objective best interest. 



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