Indian court rules against 'right to die' plea

India's supreme Court yesterday rejected a plea to end the life of a brain-damaged woman.

Aruna Shanbaug, 60, suffered massive brain injuries during a brutal sexual assault in 1973, leaving her unable to talk, move or eat on her own. A journalist who has written about the case said she should be allowed to "die with dignity" by stopping feeding, but the court said her care should continue. It did say that in rare cases a terminally ill patient could be removed from life support, which was a first for the Indian courts.