Doctors for Life has been closely following the developments related to the government’s proposed legal amendment.
We share the grave concerns that numerous prominent academics have recently expressed in their position paper. Indeed, Doctors for Life believes that the wording as proposed by the government will be loosely interpreted to allow for abortion on demand.
The text contained in the government’s amendment that specifically allows for the termination of a pregnancy where there may be a threat to a woman’s health is of particular concern. This terminology is too vague and unfortunately has led to the introduction of abortion on demand in numerous countries, starting from the UK in 1967. This is due to the holistic definition of the word ‘health’, which encompasses mental health and wellbeing.
Recent pronouncements by the prime minister place the onus of interpretation of this loosely-worded law on the individual doctor caring for the woman. This would transfer the burden of responsibility to the doctor, potentially making them a scapegoat in high-profile cases brought forward by pro-choice advocacy groups or individuals.
We are therefore fully endorsing the academics’ proposed amendment that reads as follows:
No crime is committed under article 241(2) or article 243 when the death or bodily harm of an unborn child results from a medical intervention conducted with the aim of saving the life of the mother where there is a real and substantial risk of loss of the mother’s life from a physical illness.
To this end, DfL has reached out to doctors to give them the opportunity to endorse the legal amendment proposed by the academics. Endorsements are rapidly flowing in and more than 450 doctors have already endorsed the alternative proposal.
In the U.K. the vast majority (over 98%) of abortions are performed for mental health reasons. So it is entirely justified that these 450 doctors are concerned that, if the government proceeds with the amendment in its current form, abortion on demand would soon become a reality in Malta.
DfL affirms the paramount importance of providing excellent psychiatric care to all pregnant women suffering from mental health issues. Fortunately, current psychiatric medications include several options that are relatively safe in pregnancy, and local specialists provide an excellent peri-natal mental health service ensuring a high level of care for pregnant women. Women facing a crisis pregnancy also require comprehensive psychological, social and financial support that addresses their needs holistically. DfL strongly urges the government not to confuse abortion with psychiatric care or community support.
If the government’s intention is to protect a woman’s life and to provide peace of mind to the doctors caring for her, there should be no impediment for the academics’ clause to be adopted and implemented.
DfL are calling on the general public to sign the petition on salvani.eu endorsing the academics’ amendment and join over 19,000 concerned citizens who have already done so.
DfL is also calling on the general public to make their voice heard at the National Protest being held this Sunday 4th December at 3pm, in Castille Square, Valletta.
“Iktar minn 450 tabib jiffirmaw petizzjoni li tappoġġja l-klawżola tal-liġi tal-abort proposta mill-akkademiċi.”
Doctors for Life qed isegwu mill-qrib l-iżviluppi relatati mal-emenda legali proposta mill-gvern.
Aħna wkoll ninsabu inkwetati ħafna dwar il-punti ta’ tħassib li tqajmu minn diversi akkademiċi prominenti fil-‘position paper’ li ppubblikaw. Fil-fatt bħala Doctors for Life nemmnu li l-mod kif inhi miktuba l-emenda kif proposta mill-gvern ser tiġi interpretata b’mod laxk li tippermetti l-abort għal kwalunkwe raġuni (‘abortion on demand’).
Il-frażi fl-emenda proposta mill-gvern li speċifikament tippermetti li tintemm tqala fejn hemm riskju ta’ periklu għas-saħħa hi partikolarment ta’ tħassib. Din it-terminoloġija hija vaga wisq u sfortunatament wasslet għall-introduzzjoni tal-abort għal kwalunkwe raġuni f’diversi pajjiżi, l-ewwel fosthom ir-Renju Unit fl-1967. Dan minħabba d-definizzjoni ħolistika tal-kelma ‘saħħa’, li tinkludi s-saħħa mentali u l-benessri.
Id-dikjarazzjoni riċenti tal-Prim Ministru titfa’ l-onus tal-interpretazzjoni ta’ din il-liġi vaga fuq it-tabib individwali li jkun qed jagħti l-kura lill-mara. B’hekk, kieku, l-piż tar-responsabbiltà jiġi ttrasferit lit-tabib/tabiba partikolari, u potenzjalment jintefa’ t-tort fuqhom f’każijiet prominenti li jitressqu minn organizzazzjonijiet jew individwi favur l-abort.
B’hekk aħna nendorsjaw bis-sħiħ il-klawżola alternattiva proposta mill-akkademiċi li tgħid:
‘Ma jkun twettaq l-ebda reat taħt l-artikolu 241(2) jew l-artikolu 243 meta l-mewt ta’, jew ħsara gravi fuq, tarbija mhux imwielda tirriżulta minn intervent mediku mwettaq bl-iskop li jsalva l-ħajja tal-omm meta jkun hemm riskju reali u sostanzjali ta’ telfien tal-ħajja tal-omm minn marda fiżika.’
Għal dan il-għan, DfL ikkuntattjaw lit-tobba biex jagħtuhom l-opportunità li jendorsjaw l-emenda legali proposta mill-akkademiċi. It-tobba qegħdin jilqgħu dan l-appell b’rata mgħaġġla u din l-emenda alternattiva diġà ġiet endorsjata minn iktar minn 450 tabib.
Fir-Renju Unit il-maġġoranza vasta (iktar minn 98%) tal-aborti jsiru minħabba raġunijiet ta’ saħħa mentali. B’hekk huwa kompletament ġustifikat li dawn l-450 tabib u tabiba jinsabu inkwetati li, jekk il-gvern jipproċedi bil-verżjoni kurrenti tal-emenda, l-abort għal kwalunkwe raġuni (‘abortion on demand’) dalwaqt jista’ jsir realtà f’Malta.
DfL isostnu l-importanza kritika li tiġi pprovduta kura psikjatrika eċċellenti lin-nisa tqal kollha bi problemi ta’ saħħa mentali. Fortunatament, il-mediċini psikjatriċi li huma disponibbli llum il-ġurnata jinkludi diversi għażliet li jistgħu jingħataw waqt it-tqala b’mod relattivament sigur, u l-ispeċjalisti lokali jipprovdu servizz tas-saħħa mentali perinatali tajjeb ħafna li jiżgura livell għoli ta’ kura għan-nisa tqal. Nisa li qed jesperjenzaw tqala fi kriżi jeħtieġu wkoll sapport psikoloġiku, soċjali u finanzjarju li jindirizza l-bżonnijiet tagħhom b’mod ħolistiku. DfL iħeġġu lill-gvern biex ma jikkunsidrax l-abort bħala sostitut għall-kura psikjatrika jew għas-sapport mill-komunità.
Jekk l-intenzjoni tal-gvern hija li tiġi protetta l-ħajja tal-mara u jingħata serħan tal-moħħ lit-tobba li qed jieħdu ħsiebha, ma għandu jkun hemm l-ebda xkiel għall-addozzjoni u l-implimentazzjoni tal-klawżola tal-akkademiċi.
DfL iheġġu lill-pubbliku biex jiffirma l-petizzjoni fuq salvani.eu li tendorsja l-klawżola alternattiva tal-akkademiċi u jingħaqdu ma’ iktar minn 19,000 ċittadin inkwetati li diġà ffirmaw.
DfL iħeġġu wkoll lill-pubbliku biex isemmgħu leħinhom billi jattendu l-Protesta Nazzjonali li ser issir dan il-Ħadd 4 ta’ Diċembru fit-3pm quddiem Kastilja, il-Belt.
