Does Conscious Experience Matter?

There has been a persistent question as whether animals suffer. If they don't have any conscious experience, it's all right to treat them in a cruel way. Some philosophers would say that because you're not causing them any pain. A second area where it's important is in the case of patients in a vegetative state. You might decide that even if they were having conscious experiences, their life isn't worth living. But still, it's relevant whether they're having conscious experiences.