Press Statement: Focus on Strengthening Palliative Care, Not Euthanasia
Life Network Foundation express deep concern over the Maltese government’s proposal to introduce voluntary euthanasia. While framed as a compassionate choice under strict conditions, euthanasia is not care, but the deliberate termination of a human life. True care means standing by those who are suffering, ensuring they receive the dignity, comfort, and support they deserve in their final days.
Palliative care remains the most humane and ethical approach to end-of-life treatment. It is a field that continues to evolve, and there is still much to be. The recent launch of Malta’s National Palliative Care Strategy 2025-2035 underscores the government position that there is still much more to do in Malta to ensure that patients receive dignified, holistic support throughout their illness through palliative care services.
The introduction of euthanasia undermines the very foundation of palliative care. In countries where euthanasia has been legalised, palliative care services have been deprioritized, leading to less investment in the compassionate treatment of terminally ill patients. Rather than presenting death as a solution, policymakers must work to ensure every patient receives the best possible care until their natural passing.
Beyond the fundamental ethical concerns, the proposal raises serious practical and medical issues. Predicting death within six months is scientifically questionable. Numerous cases exist of patients defying terminal prognoses. The risk of erroneous assessments could lead to irreversible consequences.
Furthermore, ensuring that euthanasia is entirely voluntary and free from coercion is impossible, as demonstrated in countries where euthanasia is legal. Studies have shown instances where vulnerable individuals feel pressured, explicitly or implicitly, to opt for euthanasia due to social, financial, or healthcare burdens.
Equally concerning is the government’s proposal mandating that objecting medical practitioners refer to patients for euthanasia. This infringes on their fundamental right to conscientious objection, forcing healthcare professionals to participate indirectly in a practice they find morally objectionable. Such a policy undermines medical ethics and places undue pressure on doctors who are dedicated to preserving life.
Rather than introducing euthanasia, we urge the government to focus on expanding palliative care resources, increasing awareness, and ensuring that no patient feels abandoned or pressured into choosing death over care. Every person deserves to live their final moments with dignity, surrounded by compassionate support, not faced with the option of premature death.
Life Network Foundation calls on policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the Maltese public to engage in a meaningful dialogue that prioritizes life, care, and dignity. Let us work together to strengthen palliative care and uphold the fundamental value of human life.
On 24 April 2025, a European citizens’ initiative published the number of signatures it had collected. Under the individualistic name of ‘My Voice, My Choice’, it is asking the EU to fund ‘abortion tourism’, enabling women to go and have an abortion in a country that is more permissive than their own. What does this maneuvering reveal about the desire to manipulate the institutions, in defiance of the law in each country?
My voice, my choice! This should be in fact the watchword of all European citizens. Our voices count. Our choices count. Our votes must be respected. It is therefore particularly rude to have given this name to a European Citizens’ Initiative that directly attacks the voices, choices and expressed votes of Europeans. The Commission cannot accede to this request without seriously undermining the freedoms of citizens in EU countries.
In fact: in May 2008, European citizens voted in favor of the Treaty of Lisbon, which defines the respective competences of the European Union and the Member States. Article 5 of the Treaty reiterates the principle of conferral of competence, according to which EU action is strictly limited to those areas in which the Member States have conferred competence. Abortion is not an EU competence and remains the exclusive competence of the Member States, as the European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, pointed out in February 2025. The misnamed actual initiative nevertheless calls on the Commission to ‘do everything in its power to ensure that abortion is safe and accessible to all’. Its spokeswoman has announced that its aim is to introduce a right to abortion in the EU. By registering an initiative that encourages it to ‘do everything in its power’ to exceed its competences, the Commission has shown itself to be blatantly disloyal to its Member States. You can’t play with the fundamental principles of European law without setting a precedent with far-reaching consequences.
But the disloyalty lies above all in the subterfuge proposed to the Commission: to set up a mechanism enabling citizens to circumvent their national legislation by going to another country to obtain what they are refused, and to support this ‘solidarity effort’ financially. The ruse is clever and skillfully presented: with no concrete proposal for a funding mechanism, the Commission has been able to register this initiative without rejecting it a priori on the grounds of illegality. Above all, the stratagem borders on tartuffery. ‘The scandal of the world is what offends, and it is not sin to sin in silence’, said Tartuffe. ‘Our initiative does not aim to harmonize or interfere with the laws and regulations of the Member States but rather falls within the competence of the EU to support’, add the signatories of this initiative. Supporting what, and who? European citizens who wish to derogate from the laws legitimately established by their respective national representations? How could this be anything other than interference with Member States’ legislation? It would be unacceptable for the European Union to circumvent, undermine and thwart national political choices in this way. The Commission cannot directly contradict the legitimate choices of each Member State in the highly sensitive area of protecting unborn human life.
While abortion falls within the exclusive remit of the Member States, the legal protection of the dignity, right to life and integrity of every human being from the moment of conception falls within the remit of the EU. The embryo is the beginning of the development process of a human being, as established by the CJEU in the Brüstle v Greenpeace judgment. To be consistent in the exercise of its competences, the EU should put an end to European funding of activities that involve the destruction of human embryos, particularly in the fields of research, development aid and public health. This was the demand of 1.7 million European citizens united in 2014 by the One of Us citizens’ initiative. This initiative remains unrivalled, with a budget 5 times smaller than the My Voice My Choice initiative. The Commission did not follow up… At a time when it is being presented with a diametrically opposed and manifestly illegal initiative, it would be a good idea for it to remember this request – and the choices made by all European citizens in defining its competences.
The One of Us European Federation brings together 50 NGOs from 19 European countries. Life Network Foundation Malta is a member of the One of Us Federation. Our raison d’être is to defend human life and dignity before the European institutions.
Christie Gellel Zammit, amministratriċi ġewwa l-qasam tas-Sapport mal-organizzazzjoni volontarja Life Network Foundation qalet li ċ-charity shop Id f’Id fi żmien sena rnexxielu jgħin 60 familja li m’għandhomx stabbiltà f’ħajjithom.
Esprimiet li minkejja li dan il-ħanut ilu miftuħ minn Marzu 2024, bl-għajnuna tad-donazzjonijiet mill-pubbliku ta’ oġġetti tat-trabi u għall-ommijiet, dawn il-familji qed jgħixu ħajja aħjar.
Newsbook Malta sab ruħu f’Santa Venera fil-ħanut Id f’Id tal-Fondazzjoni Life Network biex jara x’joffri u jifhem kif minkejja ċ-ċokon tiegħu jgħin fis-skiet lil bosta familji u ommijiet fil-bżonn.
Għaliex Id f’Id?
Gellel Zammit spjegat li l-għażla tal-isem ma kinitx faċli imma bħala kumitat xtaqu li “jirrifletti l-isbuħija tal-komunità.”
Din hija katina li kulħadd jgħin lil xulxin u minn hemmhekk ħareġ l-isem
Stqarret li kemm min joffri l-oġġetti kif ukoll dawk li jixtru qed ikomplu jgħinu lil-Life Network Foundation sabiex tkompli topera u tospita nisa bi tqala mhux pjanata, jew li għadhom kif kellhom tarbija u għandhom bżonn is-sapport.
Kompliet tenfasizza fuq l-importanza tal-valur tal-komunità, “għax ix-xogħol li nagħmlu aħna mhux xi ħaġa li nistgħu nagħmluh waħedna, imma dan iseħħ b’missjoni u bid-donazzjonijiet li jagħtu dawn l-individwi”.
Doreen, il-persuna li tieħu ħsieb iċ-charity shop qalet li l-pubbliku dejjem lest biex jagħti d-donazzjonijiet b’risq id-djar tal-Life Network Fondation: Dar Tgħanniqa ta’ Omm u l-Konservatorju Vincenzo Bugeja.
Spjegat li minn sena għal sena l-ġenerożità baqgħet dejjem tikber u n-nies bdew jagħtu aktar affarijiet milli kien hemm bżonn.
Jekk kellna erba’ tfajliet, daħlu 10 prems, u spiċċajna nitfGĦU kollox f’kamra kollox fuq xulxin. Imma mbagħad ġiet ġurnata fejn rajna nistgħux insibu kamra biex forsi nbigħuhom bi prezz baxx u xorta jkunu qed jidħlu d-donazzjonijiet għad-djar.
Christie Gellel Zammit fakkret ukoll li permezz ta’ dan il-ħanut in-nies li jagħmlu użu minnu apparti li jsibu spalla fil-mixja tal-ħajja tagħhom, ikun ukoll l-ewwel pass tagħhom biex imbagħad ikomplu jingħataw l-għajnuna mill-professjonisti u l-voluntiera permezz tal-helpline 20330023.
Żvelat li matul is-sena l-oħra, il-Fondazzjoni rċeviet madwar 700 telefonata mill-helpline fejn in-nies minn realtajiet differenti ċemplu għall-għajnuna fuq affarijiet differenti.
X’tista’ ssib f’dan il-ħanut?
You name it, We have it
Hekk qalet Doreen lil Newsbook Malta, filwaqt li tat lista ta’ oġġetti għat-trabi kif ukoll għal nisa tqal jew dawk li għadhom kemm saru ommijiet.
Fost il-ħafna affarijiet li għandhom fil-ħanut, Doreen semmiet:
Gażażi
Fliexken tat-trabi
Ħwejjeġ għat-trabi u għan-nisa tqal
Prems u coths
Breast pumps
Sterilizers
Ġugarelli
Kutri
Qalet ukoll li minn ġimgħa għall-oħra jkollhom anki affarijiet ġodda. “Ġieli jkollna affarijiet li jinbiegħu, dak li jkun jisma’ jew jaqra minn fuq Facebook li oġġett ikun telaq għax inbiegħ, u jerġgħu jġibu ieħor.”
Doreen irrimarkat li anki jkollhom ħafna affarijiet ġodda li jkunu għadhom bit-tikketta, “li xorta waħda jinbiegħu bi prezz baxx u raġonevoli”.
L-iktar oġġetti li jinbiegħu huma l-ħwejjeġ “li bħalissa qegħdin kollha bil-€1 u ż-żraben bit-€2. Dak li jkunu ġieli jiltaqa’ ma’ ħwejjeġ tad-ditti li jaf li minn ħanut jixtrih għoli imma minn hawn jinxtara bil-€1 jew €2”.
Dwar kif jirnexxielhom iżommu l-oġġetti bi prezzijiet daqshekk baxxi, Doreen qalet li huma jkunu second-hand għal darbtejn, jiġifieri jingħataw lilhom mill-pubbliku u ġieli anki jintużaw min-nisa residenti fid-djar tal-Life Network Foundation.
Huma jiġu second-hand, jiġifieri jekk persuna xtrathom għoljin diġà jonqos bin-nofs. Ċertu oġġetti nkunu għaddejnihom lit-tfajliet li jgħixu fid-djar tagħna u meta dawn ma jkollhomx aktar bżonnhom, nerġgħu nbiegħuhom, allura l-prezz jerġa’ jonqos
Qalet li ma jonqosx il-ħsieb ukoll li jekk jiltaqgħu ma’ nies li jkunu batuti, “għax xi kultant mill-bieb ta’ barra tinduna l-persuna x’inhi, nitkellmu bejnietna u nirranġaw prezz”.
B’sodisfazzjon qalet: “Basta naraw li dik il-klijenta li daħlet b’għajnejha miksurin jew stħat tidħol tixtri mingħandna ħarġet bi tbissima fuq fommha. Jien għalija tkun daqslikieku ħallsitni bi kbir”.
“Ġieli n-nies jiġu biex jgħidu kelma u jħossu li xi ħadd qed jismagħhom”
Doreen stqarret li ċ-charity shop ma jgħinx biss lin-nies f’aspetti materjali, imma li anki jirfsu fuq l-għatba tal-bieb biex jgħidu kelma u jaf li hemm xi ħadd lest li jismagħhom.
Qalet li kemm-il darba tisma’ stejjer “li jġibulek għajnejk wara widnejk speċjalment fuq każijiet lokali li jiġi ssuġġerit l-abort. Ġieli għalhekk jiġu hawnhekk biex isibu persuna li jistgħu jiftħu qalbhom magħha”.
Kif tista’ tgħin?
Tista’ żżur il-paġna ta’ Id f’Id u tħalli messaġġ, jew inkella tista’ ċċempel fuq 77115433. Jekk forsi għandek ftit ħin fuq idejk, tista’ tinżel fil-ħanut 495, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp, f’Santa Venera.
Għal aktar servizzi minn Life Network Foundation tista’ tara hawn.
Jekk għadek kif skoprejt li inti tqila, jew taf lil xi ħadd li qed jistenna tarbija, imma m’għandux il-mezzi kollha meħtieġa waqt il-vjaġġ tat-tqala u anki wara, tista’ tagħmel kuntatt mal-Life Network Foundation fuq il-helpline 20330023.
Jaf jinteressak:
Tista’ wkoll tibgħat imejl fuq lifeline@lifenetwork.eu.
The scientific reality about personification, pain and the inherent worth of human life from conception
I am responding to the letter by Peter Dingli entitled ‘Abortion complexities’ (February 7). In the letter, Dingli makes several claims that lack scientific accuracy (in addition to being inappropriately dismissive of philosophical and religious arguments). I am a neuroscientist who has been investigating abortion (and abortion-pill reversal) at the preclinical level.
Dingli refers to the “flawed personification of a foetus, which lacks neurological development…” Personification is not dependent on an individual’s capacity to be aware.
If an accident severs the nerves in your arm from the rest of the nervous system, your arm does not cease to be your arm. Neither does a person who later in life suffers from severe dementia and loses the sense of self stop being a person.
Likewise, the lack of awareness of the child in the womb does not remove the reality of their personhood. Moreover, we know, scientifically and experientially, that the understanding of self and self-awareness is a lifelong journey (that starts in utero).
If it were not, we would not spend energy researching the self-awareness (which ultimately is connected with meaning in life) in our efforts seeking to remedy negative mental health.
Dingli is also wrong in the statement pertaining to the capacity to perceive pain.
Firstly, the assertions reflect a scientific arrogance (common in the medical and academic world today) implying that we know everything there is to be known pertaining to the pre-born human being – which we clearly don’t. Moreover, even those working in the scientific field pertaining to foetal pain have been forced to admit our ignorance in the matter (e.g., see [1] who reversed their earlier stance [2]).
In the 2020 paper they state “that the necessity of the cortex for pain experience may have been overstated,” and indicate that the “precise nature of foetal pain experience remains unknown and will, perhaps, remain forever unknowable”, discussing that additional brain regions below the level of the cortex, which develop earlier in foetal development, may be implicated in foetal pain perception.
At the end of their paper, they add that the evidence “points towards an immediate and unreflective pain experience mediated by the developing function of the nervous system from as early as 12 weeks”. Other scientific evidence points to even earlier time points.
Pertaining to the fact that the inherent worth of a human life from conception is not an objective fact, once again, Dingli ignores scientific reality. We know scientifically, objectively and with certainty that as soon as fertilisation occurs there is all the genetic material that is necessary for a new human being.
The lack of awareness of the child in the womb does not remove the reality of their personhood – Stephen Sammut
Nothing is added after fertilisation. That fertilised egg can develop into nothing other than a human being and therefore is, and remains, a human at an embryonic stage, at a foetal stage, etc., in a similar way that after the child is born, there are various stages (e.g., infant, adolescent, adult).
Moreover, interestingly, documents on the ethical treatment of perinatal animals, including at the foetal stage, still refer to them as animals. Why is this not applicable to a human foetus? Additionally, the same documentation reports that prenatal animals respond to reflexive pain at approximately embryonic day 17, equivalent to day 55 (i.e. ~7.5 weeks) of human gestation.
In reference to the mention of human autonomy, it is worth referencing The Belmont Report, which here in the US holds significant standing in relation to the ethical treatment of human beings in research.
The Belmont Report addresses the ethical principle of respect for persons as being divided “into two separate moral requirements: the requirement to acknowledge autonomy and the requirement to protect those with diminished autonomy.”
Thus, based on the scientific reality of the humanity of the individual from conception, the embryo/foetus would fall under the second category requiring protection, as a person with diminished autonomy.
Finally, arguments appealing to finances and health concerns etc., used by Dingli, would also fall under the category of “emotional appeal”. Given the hurt that most women resorting to an abortion are already undergoing and the reality that, in many cases, coercion played a significant role [8, 9], and given the evidence of potential negative consequences of abortion (including, but not limited to mental health), the Hippocratic principle of “First do no harm” would dictate that we should seek to avoid additional potential harm (i.e. the negative consequences).
This possibility is very real as is evident from both clinical and preclinical evidence including work from my own lab that showed depression- and anxiety-like behaviours in rats following mifepristone-induced pregnancy termination in addition to long-term physiological consequences [10].
Such experiments are not influenced by social pressure or religion but simply reflect the physical reality of a negative biological response/acknowledgement of an interrupted healthy physiological reality.
While there is a necessity for appropriate sex education (though not the depraved version suggested by UNFPA [11]), maybe a return to teaching the value of human life, dignity, prudence, abstinence and self-control, and other virtues (which have been shown scientifically to assist in overall well-being), in addition to providing a true moral foundation and the truths evident in science, would be a more realistic answer to educating the public about the abortion issue.
Stephen Sammut
Stephen Sammut is Professor of Psychology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, US.
References
1. Derbyshire, S.W. and J.C. Bockmann, Reconsidering fetal pain. J Med Ethics, 2020. 46(1): p. 3-6. 2. Derbyshire, S. and A. Raja, On the Development of Painful Experience. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2011. 18(9-10): p. 233-256. 3. Thill, B., Fetal Pain in the First Trimester. Linacre Q, 2022. 89(1): p. 73-100. 4. Committee on Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, N.R.C., Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research. 2003. 5. Hill, M.A. Embryology Carnegie Stage Comparison. February 8, 2025; Available from: https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Carnegie_Stage_Comparison. 6. Department of Health Education and Welfare, The Belmont Report. 1979. 7. Kischer, C.W., When does human life begin? The final answer. Linacre.Q., 2003. 70(4): p. 326-339. 8. Reardon, D.C., K.A. Rafferty, and T. Longbons, The Effects of Abortion Decision Rightness and Decision Type on Women’s Satisfaction and Mental Health. Cureus, 2023. 15(5): p. e38882. 9. Reardon, D.C. and T. Longbons, Effects of Pressure to Abort on Women’s Emotional Responses and Mental Health. Cureus, 2023. 10. Camilleri, C., et al., Biological, Behavioral and Physiological Consequences of Drug-Induced Pregnancy Termination at First-Trimester Human Equivalent in an Animal Model. Front Neurosci, 2019. 13(544): p. 544. 11. International technical guidance on sexuality education – An evidence-informed approach. 2018, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); UNAIDS Secretariat; The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); UN Women; The World Health Organization (WHO): Paris, France; Geneva, Switzerland; New York, NY, United States of America.
“Bdejt nipprattika aborti meta l-fetu ma kienx għadu żviluppa l-għadam. F’dawn il-każijiet, kont nuża magna li kienet taħdem biex tiġbed b’saħħa kbira l-fetu barra mill-utru tal-omm. Meta l-fetu kien ikollu bejn 8 u 12-il ġimgħa u jkun diġà żviluppa l-għadam, kont nuża metodu aktar invażiv. Kelli strument bħal sikkina u “forceps” biex nifred il-partijiet tal-fetu minn xulxin. F’każijiet fejn il-fetu kien ikbar, kien ikun meħtieġ li nkisser ir-ras.” – Dr John
Wieħed mill-mistiedna waqt l-aħħar March for Life, Dr John, tabib li darba kien involut fi prattiċi tal-abort, tkellem dwar l-esperjenza tiegħu. Hu jiddeskrivi dawn il-proċeduri bħala ‘att barbaru’.
‘Il-March for Life’, hija mixja favur il-ħajja. Il-Fondazzjoni Life Network taħdem bis-sħiħ mhux biss biex tgħin lin-nisa li jkunu qed jikkunsidraw l-abort, iżda joffru l-għajnuna biex wara li l-ommijiet jkollhom it-tarbija tagħhom permezz tal-‘after care’, jibqgħu jieħdu ħsiebhom.
L-aftercare hija maħsuba biex tgħin lin-nisa u l-familji tagħhom jirkupraw emozzjonalment, fiżikament, u psikoloġikament, filwaqt li joffru appoġġ biex il-mara tirritorna lura fid-dinja tax-xogħol, studju u dak kollu li jkollha bżonn biex terġa’ tibda tgħix ħajjitha mill-ġdid.
Dr John beda jistaqsi lilu nnifsu ħafna mistoqsijiet. Jekk l-abort hu tassew aċċettabbli, kif jista’ jkun li 18% biss tat-tobba fl-Istati Uniti jaċċettaw li jagħmluh? Huwa jkompli jistaqsi kif f’kamra waħda fetu jkun meqjus bħala tarbija għax l-omm tridha, iżda f’kamra oħra, l-istess fetu jista’ jkun meqjus bħala xi ħaġa li tista’ tinqered għax l-omm ma tridhiex.
Esperjenza li wasslet lil Dr John ibiddel ħajtu meta darba kellu żewġ pazjenti fl-istess ġurnata. F’kamra waħda, kien hemm mara li riedet lit-tarbija tagħha, u Dr John għamel minn kollox biex it-tarbija titwieled filwaqt li f’kamra oħra, kellu mara li ma riditx it-tarbija tagħha, u Dr John wettaq l-abort. B’xokk kbir kif spiċċa mill-abort, din it-tarbija twieldet għadha ħajja u bdiet tibki. Illum, Dr John, ma baqax jipprattika l-abort iżda jaħdem bis-sħiħ biex jitkellem dwar il-valur tal-ħajja.
Dr Miriam Sciberras, is-CEO tal-Life Network Foundation, tisħaq li kull mara li tinsab f’diffikultà għandha ssib id ta’ wens. Għalhekk infetħet id-dar, ‘Tgħanniqa ta’ Omm’, fejn fiha toffri ambjent sigur għal nisa tqal li jinsabu f’sitwazzjonijiet diffiċli. Jgħinuhom f’dak kollu li jkun hemm bżonn. Jagħtuhom post fejn jgħixu, sapport kontinwu wara li titwieled it-tarbija u għajnuna essenzjali bħall-ikel u ħwejjeġ għat-tarbija.
Jekk tħossok waħdek, jekk taħseb li ħajtek spiċċat u taħseb li ma għandekx għażla oħra. Jekk qed tikkunsidra li ttemm it-tqala ftakar li hemm l-għajnuna u li m’intix waħdek.
Ikkuntattja lil-Life Network Foundation fuq: 2033 0023
The role of the social workers would be to care for the mother and her children within our maternity home. To prepare care plans/ actions plans and participate in case conferences reviews to ensure a holistic and integrated action.
Follow residents who have left the maternity home and monitor individuals and their progress.
Selected individuals will work as part of a team and will receive supervision.
Malta Stands Strong for Life: Hundreds Gather to Celebrate the Value of Every Human Life
Braving wind, rain, and cold, hundreds of passionate advocates came together in Valletta to celebrate the sanctity of life and reaffirm Malta’s place as the safest nation for unborn babies. March For Life 2024, featured stirring speeches, heartfelt testimonials, and calls to action that inspired hope and resilience in the pro-life movement.
Michaela Agius, a university medical student, opened the event with a powerful speech that resonated deeply with the crowd. “Life is a precious gift,” Agius declared. “Every life, from the moment it begins, has infinite value. We cannot remain silent when this truth is threatened. Life is not a matter of opinion; it is a fundamental principle.”
She emphasised the tangible support available through initiatives like Life Line and Life Network Foundation, adding, “We’re here to remind you that you have immeasurable value and that you are stronger than the challenges you face. From diapers and formula to childcare and shelter, help is available for those in need.”
The event continued with compelling contributions from two U.S.-based OBGYNs who shared their professional experiences underscoring the importance of life.
Dr. Christina Francis asserted, “Pregnancy is not a disease, and death is not healthcare.” Addressing fellow pro-life doctors, she expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you for fighting for all your patients. You are the last line of defense.” Dr. Francis also hailed Malta as “a light on a hill for the rest of the world,” celebrating its unwavering commitment to protecting life.
Dr. John Bruchalski, who previously was on what he described as “the dark side of choice” performing abortions, before undergoing a profound reevaluation of his medical and ethical convictions, has since become a staunch advocate for protecting both patients – mother and baby. He highlighted Malta’s unique role on the global stage, stating, “Malta is a bright light in the center of the Mediterranean for all the world, where the least are cared for, where no one is left behind.” He added that this is a legacy all Maltese people should be deeply proud of.
Dr. Miriam Sciberras, CEO of the Life Network Foundation, marked the organisation’s 10th anniversary by sharing its remarkable achievements. “In the past decade, we have supported over 150 mothers, providing safety, dignity, hope, and love so they could deliver their babies with confidence,” she said. Dr. Sciberras detailed the foundation’s life-saving initiatives, including its helpline, the central distribution hub, and “Dar Tgħanniqa ta’ Omm”, which offers shelter and support to mothers in need.
The event closed on a high note, with attendees singing the National Anthem, cheering, and pledging their commitment to keeping Malta a beacon of life in the world. Despite the challenging weather, their spirits were undampened, demonstrating the strength and unity of the pro-life movement in Malta.
Madwar 20 sena ilu, omm ta’ żewġt itfal li kienet qed tistenna tarbija ingħatat l-aħbar li t-tarbija fil-ġuf mhux qed jiżviluppalha l-moħħ kif mistenni, u li kawża ta’ hekk, ikun aħjar li tirreferi għall-abort, liema parir ġie rrifjutat mill-ġenituri.
Din l-istorja ħarġet fil-beraħ matul simpożju dwar il-kura ħolistika għall-familji li qed jistennew tarbija li għandha xi forma ta’ diżabilità, organizzat mil-Life Network Foundation, fejn bosta ommijiet kif ukoll professjonisti fil-qasam mediku esprimew l-esperjenzi u sitwazzjonijiet xejn faċli li jaffaċċjaw. Fosthom tkellem ukoll it-tabib John Bruchalski li minn professjonist li kien jagħmel l-abort fuq nisa tqal wasal biex sar tabib favur il-ħajja, liema konverżjoni seħħet meta kien qed iwettaq abort fuq mara u fil-pront twieldet it-tarbija li kien se jtemmilha ħajjitha qabel iż-żmien.
Christina Galea Curmi rrakkontat li vista fir-raba’ xahar tat-tqala biddlet il-ħajja tagħha u tar-raġel. Minn sken irriżulta li fuq moħħ it-tarbija bdiet tidher marka li ma setgħux jinterpretaw x’tikkonsisti. Minkejja li saru numru ta’ testijiet inkluż MRI fuq il-fetu, ir-riżultati ma setgħu jikkonkludu xejn.
Għaldaqstant, il-koppja rrikorriet għal parir minn żewġ timijiet prominenti fil-qasam mediku ta’ sptarijiet prestiġġjużi f’Londra u Boston. Wara bosta evalwazzjonijiet, l-esperti waslu għall-konklużjoni li ma kien hemm l-ebda indikazzjoni li l-moħħ tat-tarbija kien qed jiżviluppa. Minħabba t-tħassib tagħhom għall-iżvilupp newroloġiku tat-tarbija hija u tikber, il-professjonisti waslu biex issuġġerew lill-koppja tagħmel abort.
Madanakollu, il-koppja Galea Curmi rrifjutat dan il-parir, hekk kif għalihom li kienu diġà ġenituri ta’ żewġt itfal, kienu lesti li jilqgħu it-tielet wild tagħhom minkejja l-problemi li setgħet iġarrab. L-omm, Christina, qalet li kienu kommessi li jagħtu l-aħjar ħajja possibli lit-tifla tagħhom.
Katarina Galea Curmi
It-tarbija titwieled kompletament b’saħħitha
Meta wasal il-jum tat-twelid, Katarina twieldet b’C-section u għall-iskantament ta’ kulħadd, twieldet kompletament b’saħħitha. Għaldaqstant, il-biża’ u l-ansjetà mill-pariri li ngħataw mit-tobba sfaxxaw fix-xejn, hekk kif f’idejhom kellhom tarbija mingħajr ebda anormalità.
Għaldaqstant, matul il-konferenza Christina saħqet li l-parir tal-esperti mediċi ma kienx biss misinterpretazzjoni iżda wkoll kif minkejja l-iżviluppi mediċi li qed isiru fix-xjenza, xorta jistgħu jkunu suġġetti għall-iżball. Iktar minn hekk, semmiet kif wieħed ma għandu jissuġġerixxi t-terminazzjoni tal-ħajja għall-ebda raġuni.
20 sena wara, dik it-tarbija li skont l-esperti kellha tiġi abortita, Katarina, hija studenta li qed taħdem fil-qasam tas-saħħa u tiddedika l-ħajja tagħha fis-servizz lejn l-oħrajn. Il-ħajja tagħha, għaldaqstant, isservi bħala xhieda tal-valur fundamentali tal-ħajja tal-bniedem.
Ma’ Newsbook Malta, Katarina li tinsab fit-tielet sena tal-kors tagħha biex issir qabla – midwife – qalet li l-istudju tagħha qed jgħinha tapprezza dejjem iktar l-isfidi kbar li jgħaddu minnhom l-ommijiet u l-missirijiet fit-tqala.
Hi kompliet tgħid li l-istudju jikkonsolida l-għarfien tagħha speċjalment f’każijiet ta’ diffikultà għall-ġenituri u t-tarbija fil-ġuf. “Għalhekk napprezza dejjem iktar l-għażliet li għamlu l-mamà u l-papà,” qalet ma’ dan is-sit.
Katarina Galea Curmi
Min-naħa tagħha, l-omm sostniet li l-esperjenza li għaddiet minnha tiżvela l-bżonn li wieħed jistaqsi u jeżamina l-vuċijiet l-aktar b’saħħithom partikolarment dawk tal-awtorità.
Hija temmet id-diskors tagħha tistqarr li l-valur tal-ħajja ma jistax jitkejjel dejjem mill-aspett tas-saħħa jew tal-konvenjenza, iżda mid-determinazzjoni u l-fidi li twassal għal riżultati straordinarji.
Illum, il-Ħadd 1 ta’ Diċembru se jsir marċ favur il-ħajja li jitlaq mill-Pjazza Jean De Valette fil-Belt Valletta fit-3:00pm.
President of Malta sends message of support and encouragement to Perinatal Care Symposium hosted by Life Network.
Life Network hosted an academic symposium led by international medical professionals discussing the best ways to care for mothers and babies following a challenging medical diagnosis of a baby before birth. The medics discussed how to care for both mothers and babies and highlighted examples of best practice.
“No mother, no family, should face a challenging perinatal diagnosis on their own. Life Network is here to help” said Tonio Fenech, Chairman of Life Network, as he opened the symposium.
Dr Christine Francis from the USA, spoke about prenatal diagnosis as an instrument of care. This was followed by Prof. Giuseppe Noia from the
Gemelli Hospital, Rome, speaking about the medical advancements for both baby and mother over recent years. Dr Elaine Pace Spadoro, Dr Ethel Felice, Anna Louisa La Teano and Angela Bozzo highlighted the care necessary for all those involved in a perinatal diagnosis: the unborn baby, the mother and also the father – and highlighted the significant levels of care and support that are now available, including practical, psychological and social.
Following this Dr Dione Mifsud led a conversation with three mothers who shared their experiences of having challenging medical diagnoses for their unborn children, and how they experienced both positive and negative responses and reactions from both medical professionals and family.
Dr John Bruchalski gave a impassioned account of how he came to the realisation that when one truly looks after a pregnant woman, one must recognise that there are two patients, and that one must look after them both in body and spirit. He talked about the great example of integrated medicine that is available in Malta – including the great and inspiring work of Life Network Foundation.
The President sent greetings wishing those present “great success in their work supporting mothers and their babies”.
The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai attended the whole conference and shared the greetings of Pope Francis. He highlighted that “maternity is not an individual business”, and thanked those who spoke for their work of protecting and promoting the dignity of both mother and
baby, “because every life is a gift of infinite value”. He said “I learnt a lot, a lot”.
Dr Miriam Sciberras, CEO of Life Network Foundation said: “It has been a wonderful day and a great encouragement that the President has sent her greetings and encouragement to all of us who work for a holistic approach to the care of pregnant women and their babies. We thank her for her inspiring support”.
Life Network urges all Maltese MEPs to vote against proposal of “right to abortion” in upcoming vote on EU Fundamental Rights Charter, citing misinformation, Malta-EU Assentation Treaty, EU Law, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The draft proposal to include the right to abortion in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter, includes misinformation in regard to the laws of Malta. In Malta there are no restrictions regarding medical lifesaving treatments available to women who are pregnant[1], as is claimed in the draft proposal. Further to this, Malta has the same maternal mortality rate as the EU average[2], demonstrating top quality maternity care.
The pressure being placed on Malta by the European Parliament, is highly inappropriate in light of the EU-Malta accession Treaty 2003, whereby “nothing … shall affect the application in the territory of Malta of national legislation relating to abortion”[3].
While the European Parliament may vote on amending the Charter, it has no competence (legal right) to change the Charter, as all changes to the Charter must be agreed unanimously by each member state, not the European Parliament.
The draft proposal uses the language of human rights, even though the Universal Declaration of Human Right makes no reference to abortion, but rather states that “equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”[4]. To deny the humanity of one group within the human family, in this case unborn babies, is a travesty of justice.
It is particularly concerning that Maltese MEP Cyrus Engerer, is one of the proposers[5] of the draft which explicitly criticises Malta, in light of the fact that the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and every member of the Maltese Parliament only last year, voted unanimously in favour of the current law in Malta relating to the protection of mothers and their unborn babies.
The reference in the draft to people choosing “how to have children” seems to advocate for some form of right to surrogacy where women are used as incubators and babies are commodities.
Life Network encourages all to recognise that medical advancements have made it even clearer that an unborn baby, at every stage of development, is always a human being, and as such has inalienable rights and deserves protection. Abortion does not protect women, but rather takes the lives of women, along with men, in the womb, while hurting mothers. The way forward is to support women in their pregnancies and help them become great mothers to their children.
Dr Miriam Sciberras, CEO of Life Network said: “This draft proposal, and all those who support and vote for it, are advocating for abortion up to the full 9-month gestation with no restrictions at all, as a matter of choice. I urge all Maltese MEPs to proudly vote against it”.
“This draft proposal, framed in human rights language, is the antithesis of human rights. It attempts to dehumanise the unborn child, giving him or her no rights whatsoever and turning children into commodities”.
Links:
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on including the right to abortion in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter
