The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has urged President George Vella not to endorse the new Cannabis law until safeguards for patients and elderly people are included.

The MUMN said that any nurse, doctor, or even a carer under the influence of Cannabis may be nursing patients.

“Such professionals may have impaired mental judgment and the management of any hospital would not be in a position to take the necessary action to stop such hospital employee since there is no provision within the law concerning a sensitive sector such as the Health Sector.”

The union said that, whatever the rights of the individual to smoke cannabis are, even if at home, this should never be at the detriment on the vulnerable patients. “Any hospital management should always have the right to take blood and urine levels to test for cannabis and drugs including alcohol. Disciplinary action should be taken when such substances are found in abnormal levels.”

Patient safety should not be jeopardised by any legal gargle and the members of Parliament must be made aware of the consequences, it said.

“A simple small slip-up that can easily occur under the influence of cannabis could result in the administration of wrong medication. Cannabis levels are not as straightforward as the alcohol blood levels of intoxication. Therefore, any hospital management should have the right to stop any hospital employee, especially those with direct patient contact, if any mental impairment is visible, irrespective of the law legalizing cannabis.”

“The law has to protect the patient at all times and having legislation on Cannabis with no special proviso for the hospitals and elderly residences would be a great disrespect. This would also result in great irresponsibility towards the patients who have trusted their lives in the hands of health professionals,” MUMN said.

MUMN, through FOR.U.M will be also discussing this issue to request an urgent meeting at MCESD level on the Cannabis Legislation.

It appealed to the President of Malta – a medical doctor by profession – not so sign the Bill.

“This Bill should not legalise Cannabis use unless there is a special proviso for hospitals and elderly residences. The President of Malta should safe guard the interest of the patients and elderly residents, from any healthcare workers who abuse from the use of cannabis,” MUMN said.