Valeria Corredor T.

11ª

Quote: “We don’t let animals suffer, so why humans”

- Stephen Hawking

According to Stephen Hawking, “We don’t let animals suffer so why humans”,
from my point of view, this quote means that euthanasia might be not only for animals but
also for human beings because suffering can be presented in both cases. Many people have
the idea that only animals especially pets, can end their lives, nevertheless, for patients with
terminal illnesses, it should be possible. Unfortunately, the laws from a large number of
countries considered it is not ethical.

Many owners are faced with making life or death decisions for their pets, so they
consider not only the welfare of the pet but also of their family. The family also plays an
important role in the decision making, because in most of the cases when the pet faces a
disease that cannot be treated or requires more than the family can provide such as money
and attention, euthanasia might be the option. In all these cases, the quality of life is
important because if then the pet is experiencing more pain than pleasure or cannot enjoy, it
is important to ask the following question “Does my pet have more bad days than good
days?

However, this empathy does not happen in humans because euthanasia is seen as
not ethical so they arise moral dilemmas such as is there a moral difference between killing
someone and letting them die? This makes think people that euthanasia is the intentional
killing of a dependent human being for their benefit, or maybe they are influenced by their
religion because they all think that God has forbidden it and that human life is sacred. It is
important to highlight that many governments should consider this option viable for the
family because many people with terminal illnesses should have the right to a dignified
death.

To conclude, I think that euthanasia should be possible because as pets have the
opportunity to inject euthanasia in conditions where they are not able to respond to the
owner in their usual way or they are just experiencing more pain than pleasure, patients
with terminal illnesses also must have the opportunity to avoid their suffering through
euthanasia, because after all, it is less painful than continue living.