A prominent socio-spiritual group comprising senior members of the Maltese community has added its voice to the growing chorus of opposition against the government’s proposed assisted voluntary euthanasia legislation, as the public consultation period nears its conclusion on July 2nd.
Christ Our Neighbour Group (CONG), established in the mid-1970s and consisting of approximately 35 senior community members, has published a comprehensive position paper arguing against the introduction of voluntary euthanasia in Malta.
The group advocates instead for a major upgrade in palliative care services, drawing on their life-long experiences of assisting loved ones through the dying process.
The intervention comes amid fierce opposition from the Catholic Church and pro-life groups. Last week, the Life Network Foundation launched its own campaign titled “Oqtol l-uġigħ, mhux lili” (Kill the pain, not me), advocating against legalisation and calling for improved palliative care instead.
Life Network CEO Miriam Sciberras urged the public to make their voices heard via the platform oqtollugigh.org, declaring: “Malta does not need assisted suicide. Malta needs the best care for those who are approaching the end of their lives.”
Flawed arguments, says CONG
In their detailed opinion document, CONG challenges the two main arguments typically presented in favour of euthanasia.
The group dismisses the “body ownership” argument as fallacious, noting that if this principle were truly accepted, voluntary euthanasia would have to be available to anyone for any reason, contradicting the government’s own draft proposal that restricts it to terminal illnesses.
“If the body ownership argument were to be considered valid, no restrictions should be placed on the lawful provision of voluntary euthanasia on demand,” the group states, warning this would effectively promote assisted suicide for all reasons.
Regarding fears about the dying process, CONG argues that dignified death does not equate to access to voluntary euthanasia. Instead, they point to the words of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement: “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.”
Real-life cases highlight palliative care gaps
The group’s opposition is bolstered by personal experiences of inadequate end-of-life care. CONG details two particularly striking cases from their members’ experiences, including a 55-year-old woman with terminal cancer whose pain management was restricted due to healthcare professionals’ fears about addiction, despite her having only days to live.
In another case, an 80-year-old man with multiple organ failure was essentially abandoned after a Do Not Resuscitate decision, with his hydration stopped and no efforts made to manage his distressing symptoms. “He was simply wheeled to the corner of the ward and left to his own fate,” the document states.
These experiences, CONG argues, demonstrate that Malta’s priority should be focusing on comprehensive palliative care rather than introducing euthanasia legislation.
The Catholic Church has also voiced strong objections to the proposals, citing incompatibility with Catholic teaching and concerns about potential abuse of vulnerable individuals. A group of 134 academics from the University of Malta have published a position paper warning that legalising euthanasia could undermine public trust in medical institutions and “radically shift the country’s core values.”
The academics argue that introducing such legislation would send a “dangerous message that life is disposable once it loses its perceived utility,” advocating instead for strengthened palliative care systems.
CONG says there is limited public support for euthanasia
CONG also points to polling data suggesting limited public support for euthanasia. They cite a recent Times poll involving 2,790 respondents showing that 54% considered euthanasia “completely unacceptable,” while a 2004 survey found only 12% giving definite support for voluntary euthanasia.
However, a recent MaltaToday survey revealed a divided public, with 49.1% of respondents supporting voluntary euthanasia, 29.1% opposed, and 21.8% undecided.
The group argues that discussion of voluntary euthanasia is premature since a comprehensive palliative care system still needs to be developed and implemented. They warn that introducing euthanasia legislation would amount to “resigning itself to the presumed failure of the National Palliative Care Strategy for Malta 2025-2035.”
The government has launched the public consultation on the potential introduction of assisted voluntary euthanasia in a somewhat non-committal fashion, not yet pledging to present a bill on the issue. The consultation document outlines principles and safeguards for “assisted voluntary euthanasia and how we can respect the dignity and autonomy of individuals in cases of terminal illness.”
However, CONG raises several technical concerns about the proposals, including questioning the accuracy of predicting six-month life expectancy for terminal patients, and highlighting concerns about the mental state of individuals receiving devastating diagnoses.
The group also objects to requirements that healthcare professionals with conscientious objections must refer patients to other doctors willing to provide euthanasia services, comparing this to “referring somebody wishing to commit a murder to a hitman.”
Source: Newsbook.com.mt