When a pet is old, frail, sick, terminal, etc... its owners often make the decision to euthanise it to save it from a painful end to its life. If someone were to permit an animal in their care to die after suffering an excruciatingly long and painful death, they would undoubtedly be labelled uncaring and inhumane. Why should this sentiment not similarly extend or apply to humans in similar situations where they, unlike pets, can also have the capacity to [i]expressly consent[/i] to being euthanised?
Is it not more [i]inhumane[/i] to allow a fellow human being to suffer a painful end to their life?
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This topic often comes up with people that are, say, in a coma, or some other state in which they can't make the decision themselves. The controversy is that that person may not want to 'have the plug pulled' on them, why should someone else make that decision for them? As for animals, they can't really communicate their feelings on that sort of thing, [i]that's[/i] where you get the difference I think.