The doctor who approached the court to defend a patient`s right to die with dignity by creating a legal document termed a `living will` is now amending his petition to include the Union Health Ministry and the National Medical Commission as respondents.

There was a hearing in the Bombay High Court on Thursday, three months after the urban development department appointed 417 custodians for the safekeeping of such living wills. During the hearing, the petitioners highlighted the lack of awareness activities on the part of the state government. Furthermore, the petitioners flagged the need to set up mechanisms that will allow citizens to invoke their living wills in times of need.