The Great Put Down

Trey Smith

For all of you readers who have ever shared your life with one or more pets, there is a good chance that a time has come in which you've had a pet euthanized -- put down -- to alleviate suffering. Too often, it's an agonizing decision based, in part, on the fact that we can't ask the animal directly, "Is this what you want?"

In a manner of speaking, when a human decides that it is time to end the life of a beloved pet, we are assuming the role of god (unless, of course, you don't believe in a god). We make the ultimate decision as to the life and death of another being.

For the most part, when such decisions are made with care and love, we are said to be acting humanely and humaneness is seen by most people to be a virtuous attribute. Some of the most revered individuals in the history of humankind are those we honor as being the most humane.

In light of all this, why then do so many people consider it taboo to euthanize human beings, particularly those who desire it? Unlike a dog, cat or parakeet who cannot specifically tell us that their pain, infirmity or disability has become too much for them to bear, a human being can specifically tell us precisely that. A human being that we love and cherish can tell us that they are ready to die and yet, in the eyes of many, if we honor such a request, others will accuse us of being the epitome of inhumane!

Why is that we can humanely put down a suffering animal and yet not do the same for a person we love?