A First in India: Living Will Counter Debuts in Kerala
On July 27, 2025, Kerala proudly inaugurated India’s first dedicated Living Will Information Counter at Government Medical College, Kollam. This pioneering initiative assists individuals in legally documenting their end-of-life medical preferences—ensuring autonomy even when one cannot speak for oneself.
Legal Backdrop: Living Wills Gain Recognition
The Supreme Court of India legalized Living Wills in a landmark 2018 ruling, recognizing the right to die with dignity as fundamental. To simplify the process, the government issued clearer guidelines on January 23, 2023, ushering in more accessible forms of Advance Medical Directives.
How the Kollam Counter Works
Conceptualized by Dr. Induprabha Yadav following a personal experience, the counter offers step‑by‑step assistance: drafting the Living Will, nominating two surrogates (healthcare proxies), obtaining signatures from two witnesses, and notarization by a gazetted officer or notary. The process removes bureaucratic confusion and supports informed, empowered decision-making.
Early Adoption: Who’s Signing Up?
Since opening, hundreds of people—including families, patients in palliative care, daily‑wage earners, and medical professionals—have availed the service. Kerala’s model, unlike Western trends, shows higher uptake among lower-income groups, given rising medical costs and limited insurance coverage.
Safeguards and Eligibility Verification
To activate a Living Will, two independent medical boards (primary and secondary) must confirm that the patient is terminally ill or in irreversible decline. This ensures that decisions like refusal of ventilators, CPR, chemotherapy, or IV nutrition are medically reviewed before implementation.
Expansion Plans Across Kerala
Inspired by Kollam’s success, Alappuzha Medical College is instituting its own counter, with proposals underway to replicate the model at local self-government institutions across Kerala. Advocates are encouraging municipal bodies statewide to follow suit.
Key Facts & Legal Trivia
- The Supreme Court recognized Living Wills in 2018; simplified legal procedures introduced in January 2023.
- Kerala’s first counter launched at Kollam Medical College on July 27, 2025 0.
- Nearly 400 people in Kerala have already created Living Wills—mostly from informal sector workers and low-income communities 1.
- Alappuzha Medical College and other institutions are following Kollam’s lead in setting up similar counters 2.
Why This Matters: Empowerment and Ethical Care
A Living Will empowers individuals to record their healthcare preferences—rejecting unwanted treatments or life support when facing terminal illness. It prevents family disputes, reduces emotional and financial strain, and aligns end-of-life care with personal values and dignity.
Looking Ahead: Potential and Challenges
While the Kollam counter marks a promising start, experts stress the need for broader awareness, standardized training for hospitals, and legal oversight to prevent misuse. Healthcare bodies like the Indian Medical Association emphasize rigorous medical evaluation to guard against hasty or improperly applied directives.
Final Thoughts
Kollam’s Living Will Information Counter is a watershed moment for healthcare autonomy in India. By simplifying access to legal tools for end-of-life planning, it sets a compassionate precedent. If adopted statewide and nationally, India’s elderly and terminally ill could gain unprecedented control over their final medical journey.
Source: The Week