Euthanasia Insights from Veterinarians

This video is part of the “Life We Should Live” project. The URL for more information about this project is: https://thelifeweshouldlive.com

I recently had a discussion with veterinarians about euthanasia for animals. They made a big distinction between farm animals and pets, as they are very different. Our focus was on pets, and I asked them how euthanasia works.

The first thing they mentioned is that it takes a toll on them. Taking an animal they've been caring for and putting it to sleep is hard, leaving them mentally exhausted. They also explained that they have a process in which they talk to the family, representing the animal in the discussion. They act as the agent for the animal, discussing its quality of life. They talk to the family about the need to stop suffering and to put the animal to sleep, encouraging them to ask as many questions as possible.

After that, they ask the family to take the animal home for a few days to say goodbye. They then encourage the family to come back and be present at the time of euthanasia. One veterinarian described the room they have with a basket for the animal, emphasizing the importance of family members being there to experience the end of life as a peaceful, falling asleep process. They encourage the family to put their hands on the animal, pet it slowly, and feel it as it falls asleep and stops breathing.

Another fascinating point they made is that they believe their role is to represent the welfare and quality of life of the animal, since it can't speak for itself. They also think that human physicians don't represent the patient but rather medical science. Veterinarians take their responsibility as the agent of the animal seriously because people can talk. They believe modern human physicians don't represent the well-being of the patient but instead focus on fighting for more life, measuring it not in terms of quality but in moments.

I think veterinarians are ahead of human health in some aspects. They've discovered important elements about the need to represent quality of life, how to say goodbye, and how to involve the family. One topic I want to explore further is if we, as a society, can learn from veterinarians to have a better end of life experience, both morally and practically.


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