Id-Dar tal-Providenza is firmly opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia, as it believes they both strike at the heart of society, which has a duty to protect the life of every person. They also undermine the principle of inclusion. It also maintains that the dignity of life is not achieved through assisted suicide. For these reasons, it strongly opposes the proposal to introduce assisted voluntary euthanasia in Malta.
Id-Dar tal-Providenza notes that wherever assisted suicide has been introduced, there has been a cultural shift in which those who are “healthy” are increasingly valued, while negative attitudes towards those who require care and medical assistance are reinforced.
Euthanasia promotes a throwaway culture, in which human beings are seen as burdens, and the decision to die may not truly be a personal choice but rather influenced by internalised societal values that devalue care and portray dependence on others as something shameful.
Indeed, the current debate places a strong emphasis on personal autonomy and paints a picture that it is better to die than to live in dependence, in need of personal care, or in pain – a concept that suggests that the lives of those in such situations are of lesser value. This easily leads from a “right to die” to a “duty to die,” due to the pressure placed on individuals who depend on others and who may feel that they have become a burden to society and their loved ones.
This proposal can result in a dangerous shift in medical ethics, where doctors become instruments of death instead of defenders of life. Moreover, in a culture that views death as a solution, there have already been cases where doctors decided not to save the life of a person with a disability because they believed that the person had no acceptable quality of life – thus ignoring the person’s right to life.
Id-Dar tal-Providenza believes that so-called safeguards are deceptive, as they rarely remain in place over time, as seen in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Canada. In Canada, assisted suicide occurs in the case of people with disabilities or mental health conditions, while in the Netherlands, parents may choose to end the lives of babies born with disabilities.
Furthermore, id-Dar tal-Providenza considers the consultation period to be too short, as it does not allow for a mature and informed discussion and does not provide for meaningful participation by organisations that represent persons with disabilities and their families.
Id-Dar tal-Providenza insists that Malta must continue to uphold the value of life and work towards providing better care and support. This can be done by investing in high-quality and holistic palliative care, improving services for persons with disabilities and those with mental health difficulties, and promoting the belief that every life is worthy of being lived.