India’s First Living Will Clinic Opens in Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital

What if you could decide your end-of-life care while you’re still healthy and aware? Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai has started a dedicated Living Will Clinic—India’s first such initiative—to help people legally document their medical preferences in advance.

What is a Living Will

A living will, also called a medical directive, is a legal document that a person creates in advance to specify what kind of medical treatment they would or wouldn’t want if they ever become unable to speak or make decisions for themselves, such as during a medical emergency, coma, or serious illness.

In 2018, the Supreme Court recognized the right to die with dignity and allowed advance medical directives. Although the law existed, the process was hard to follow. In 2023, the Court simplified the format, but many people still don’t know how to go about it.

What Does the Clinic Offer

The clinic was launched to simplify and support the process. Many people are still unsure about what creating a living will involves, or what critical care decisions, like ventilators, dialysis, or CPR, might mean for them.

This clinic helps them understand those interventions, talk through their preferences, and make informed choices. It also takes care of drafting the will, notarizing it, and sending it to the required witnesses, relatives, and authorities. As per Supreme Court guidelines, patients must also name two nominees, typically one close family member and one friend, who live nearby and can be available quickly in case the will needs to be acted upon.

The clinic is led by Dr. Roopkumar Gursahani, a senior neurologist, and Dr. Smriti Khanna, a palliative care specialist. It runs every Saturday on an appointment basis.

Dr. Gursahani, in conversation with The Press Trust of India, mentioned,

Anyone above 18, whether healthy, managing a chronic condition, or in palliative care, can make a living will.

Law in Action

In 2024, Mumbai-based gynecologist Dr. Nikhil Datar became the first person in India to officially register a living will. He later approached the Bombay High Court, which directed the state to appoint custodians in each district to store such documents.

As of now, 413 custodians have been appointed in Maharashtra, including two in Mumbai.

Can It Be Changed Later

Yes. Living wills can be changed or withdrawn at any time, but the person has to repeat the process from the beginning.

Updated versions must also be shared with doctors, family members, any chosen representative, and local authorities.

A Real Case From the Clinic

In one case, an 80-year-old man with heart and lung issues wanted to live long enough to attend his granddaughter’s wedding. He agreed to short-term ventilator support but declined cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if his heart stopped, after having seen how traumatic it can be.

Now, his family and doctors know exactly what he wants—and can act accordingly when the time comes.

Why This Matters

"We believe the living will process is at the core of personalized medicine as it allows individuals to reflect about what quality of life means to them and express their wishes clearly. Our goal at the clinic is to help people navigate through these decisions with sensitivity." Dr. Khanna in conversation with The Press Trust of India.

What’s Next

The Maharashtra government has asked Hinduja Hospital to develop a living will portal by mid-August, following a Bombay High Court directive. Dr. Datar compared the vision to a marriage registration system.

Hinduja also plans to release process guides and templates online, paving the way for more hospitals to set up similar services across India.

(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)