Hyderabad, March 7: The apex court’s nod to passive euthanasia comes six years after a former national chess champion’s unsuccessful opening gambit on the issue.

On December 15, 2004, Andhra Pradesh High Court had refused the plea of the terminally ill K. Venkatesh, 25, who wanted his life support withdrawn and his organs donated before his neurological disorder caused them irreparable damage.

The Vijayawada youth died in a Hyderabad hospital two days later, on December 17 that year, but by then only his cornea was fit for donation.

His mother Sujatha and sister Leela Sharada, who had fought a hard legal battle on Venkatesh’s behalf, today wished the courts had been as “considerate” then as they were now. “My son’s last wish would not have remained unfulfilled then,” Sujatha said.

Venkatesh had suffered since childhood from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which progressively paralyses the patient’s muscles, ultimately affecting the lungs and heart and causing death.

“He never let it get to him. He taught at his chess academy and attended a multi-media course in a wheelchair,” said Leela Sharada.

But when his condition worsened and he was put on ventilator, he decided it was best to hasten his imminent death and help save a few lives with his organs.

His then physician, V. Sreekanth, said Venkatesh’s gesture had not gone in vain. “Inspired by him, many of my patients with degenerative diseases have expressed a desire to donate their organs.”