The Malta Health Students Association (MHSA) publically came out in favor of euthanasia; a rather controversial topic in Malta for quite some time.
Health Students, argued that euthanasia should be enabled only to those patients whose quality of life is severely compromised, whilst reaffirming their belief that taking Euthanasia legislation into consideration can even serve as an answer to several critically-ill patients.
MHSA has agreed that whilst taking such topic seriously, one must always safeguard the individuals’ right to die in a dignified manner. In fact, they are of the opinion that euthanasia should be applicable to patients of 18 years of age and above who are educated and mentally capable of making reasonable requests voluntarily and more than once, that their lives be ended.
This sensitive topic is only being discussed openly now that it is currently being debated by a parliamentary committee following Joe Magro’s (ALS) public statement that he would rather die than live with the serious stages of his terminal illness. There is also an online petition urging the Members of Parliament to legalise euthanasia. Nonetheless, political parties have not yet taken a stand on this delicate issue.
One must take into consideration that fact that for many years ’Euthanasia’ has been a taboo topic in Malta. In fact, when taking a closer look at the comments on social media that Maltese citizens have been sharing, it shows that perhaps it still is a taboo topic for many.
On www.maltatoday.com.mt for instance, one could see various comments which reveal the different opinions on the subject at hand. Perhaps the most striking ones are those relating to the stand taken by the Health Students. A particular person posted that we should not take students’ potential foregranted in response to another comment whereby it was stated that writing about what students think is irrelevant and silly.
Whilst some people appreciated the courage it takes to take a stand and say ’yes’ to euthanasia in special cases, others criticised students publically, calling them ’immature’ and of ’shameful behaviour.’ Could it be that although we are moving towards the end of 2016, many ’mature’ people out there still don’t believe enough in the power of youth? Or is it another case where the same old ’we are a close-minded society’ defence applies?