Why is animal euthanasia considered ethical but human euthanasia is not?

Question

I'm not supporting one or the other.

Answer 1

Because of 2 reasons. 1 - People, unfortunately have an unhealthy attachment to humans. We can recognize that an animal will be better off if they were euthanized to alleviate chronic pain and misery. We think that keeping humans alive in similar conditions is right and proper. We stick them with numerous chemicals and drug them up so much, they lose consciousness to ease their suffering so that we can gaze upon their lifeless shell saying, their better off like this.
2 - Some people don't consider that animals are as important as humans. We say that animals we keep are "pets" and not "family". My cocker spaniel Cleo passed away 1 month ago and our family mourned and had a short memorial to celebrate her life. She lived for 16 years and 8 months. She had a massive impact on our lives and was part of our family. We grieved when she passed. Some people, especially animal shelters say, if they are not adopted in 5 days, kill them. Humans are found and taken care of as wards of the state. I'm not saying kill humans too, just saying that animals are not viewed with the same respect.

Answer 2

Maybe because humans are sentinent...its just a guess. What I mean is humans develop a concept of self through other humans, so when another human dies we can empathize. In our very nature death would be much harder to accept because we dont know what happens after that. Euthanasia flies in the face of survival (even though survival may not be on the menu for that particular person). Animals may not have a true sense of self or as developed as us (primates might-cant remember) so death is not easier but perhaps easier to accept because it just is.....get it?

Answer 3

Being a lover of animals I too ask myself the same question. My only conclusion is this;
Genesis 1:26
26 Then God said, “Let us make man [8] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” They are unable to care for themselves especially the domesticated animals we sometime must make a decision for them. There will be a place for them in heaven but they have no souls.
I've have churned this within my conscience for you see I have had to make the decision for what was best for my friends/family. 3 dogs all with cancer all sent to canine oncologists. They lived until I could not take their pain anymore and I made a decision that I believe was best for them. I didn't take them out and shoot them I didn't dump them off somewhere because of the financial burden, I allowed all the doctors to do that they could and when the time was right I no longer allowed them to suffer.
Humans on the other hand have a soul that is a mighty powerful difference.
This is my view and only my view simply because I was unable to find another solution.
It does not however mean I support one or the other as well.
PS one dog made it surgery and chemo.. 2 years and 10 months cancer free. It just wasn't her time.
I'm not sure there will ever be a resolution to the question.

Answer 4

Because we always keep hope no matter how impossible it seems that they will stop suffering and heal, take a look at those peopl who have loved ones with brain injuries that leave the vegeteted, they still have hope they will recover, even if you know they are suffering you think it may end eventually and they can get back to living

Answer 5

Two reasons.

1) Moral / Religious. Murder is illegal, so we are extremely cautious when taking a human life & sucide is considered a sin.

2) Financial. It is extreamely profitable to care for the extreamely sick. So Doctors are twice motovated not to euthanise.

Both issues go away with anamals.

Not illegal / immoral to kill them.

Few humans will part with $200,000 so Rover can suffer through a few more months.

Answer 6

We eat animals. People eating is considered cannibalism. So, the lower forms of life do not get as much ethical considerations. Do you enjoy a hamburger ever so often? Then, you too are euthanizing animals as the cows go into circles so they are too dizzy to fight the end before the slaughter.

Answer 7

Why is it ok to kill some animals for food, but not others? Why is it so horrible if you murder one human being, but that same person may have murdered 100 cows for food for humans? Why is that ok??

Humans are completely screwed up, and thats the best answer I can give you. We're selective about what is right and what is wrong, best fitting us accordingly... Not for the real issues.

Answer 8

People are stuck on the Biblical, "Thou shalt not kill." Also on the "you shall have dominion over them [animals.]" It is rather annoying. Some people are so sick and miserable with no hope of getting better that euthanasia truly would be "mercy killing."

Answer 9

I dont know. i believe that if a person is really dying and they have exhausted all avenues and still no avail and the person has made their peace already. i think... who are we to decide, to keep a person alive just to suffer.

Answer 10

Neither of them are. Killing another soul is only a killing no matter how well justified, which means it has Karmic consequences.
Life and death are matter of God's predilection, and we all know what happens when man starts playing God.