Euthanasia: Doctor calls for introduction of living will – Newsbook

Michael Asciak, a doctor and former chairperson of the Bioethics Consultative Committee suggested the introduction of advance directives and further investment in palliative care before opening a discussion on the delicate subject of euthanasia.

Speaking on Andrew Azzopardis talkshow on 103 Maltas Heart, Michael Asciak, said before euthanasia, we must introduce advanced directives which would allow people to instruct what should be done if they are no longer conscious.

Living wills and other advance directives which are not legal in Malta are written, legal instructions regarding preferences for medical care if somebody is unable to make decisions for themselves.

Advance directives guide choices for doctors and caregivers if a person is terminally ill, seriously injured, in a coma, in the late stages of dementia or near the end of life.

Asciak who is opposed to euthanasia added that we need more solidarity and support because very few patients who are given support choose to die, because such people fear that they will be left alone. That is why we need to strengthen palliative care.

The former MP noted that the only palliative care in Malta is offered by the voluntary organisation Hospice Malta.

He also stressed the need to differentiate between positive and negative euthanasia, or in other words ending somebodys life by giving them medicine or by assisting them to die by not giving them medicine.

Euthanasia is not legal in Malta and assisted suicide is a crime punishable by up to 12 years in prison.

However, Asciak underlined the importance of human autonomy when deciding on health care. Every patient has a right to refuse treatment, he said, adding that he is against euthanasia because this would go against the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence, which require doctors to protect the welfare of their patients.

Euthanasia remains a divisive issue, however other guests who appeared on Azzopardis talkshow agreed on the need for a mature discussion on the sensitive matter.

TV personality Josef Bonello said that death and suffering remain taboo subjects but stressed on the need to look at death as a natural and unavoidable part of life.

He explained that he is in favour of allowing people to opt for euthanasia as long as they are in a sound state of mind because, according to him, suffering should not be glorified or sanctified.

Bonello added that he has seen people close to him, including his mother, go through immense suffering, and this made him to ask why are they still alive? He added that this situation brought him to the realisation that people with terminal illness should be given the opportunity to choose for themselves whether they wanted to end their life.

Its a question of dignity, he said, adding that euthanasia is a very personal issue and should not be turned into a partisan political one.

Operations Director at Sedqa Jesmond Schembri agreed that dignity is central in the euthanasia debate, adding that dignity is very subjective and euthanasia should be seen in the context of lifes continuum.

While positioning himself against euthanasia, Schembri said this was consistent with his beliefs that life should be protected at all stages, from conception onwards and explained that for this reason he opposes abortion and the death penalty.

He explained that quality of life deteriorates with age and therefore clear parameters should be set for when and how euthanasia can be put into action. However, he warned that such parameters were prone to abuse, as the experience in various countries has shown.

Lovin Malta deputy editor Jonathan Cilia called for a discussion on the legal, ethical, and experience process for someone to get assisted suicide in Malta.

While arguing that life in beautiful, Cilia noted that people suffering from terminal illness should be given an opportunity to choose assisted dying. However he said the state of mind and the body play a very important role and people should be stable and understand what position they are in in the present and the future.

Watch full discussion below

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Euthanasia: Doctor calls for introduction of living will - Newsbook