Editorials like the one you wrote after Opposition Leader Alfred Sant made his first public appearance (Removing doubts, TMID, 16 January) after his major operation to announce that he will continue to lead the Malta Labour Party, are a credit to local journalism.

Ever since the news of Dr Sant’s medical condition was made public on Boxing Day, we had so many journalists and opinion-writers trying to speculate about Dr Sant’s health and his political future, trying to gain advantage from the situation.

His privacy, to say the least, was not respected. I, for one, believe that even a public person has a private life which is sacred to him or her, and which should not be openly debated in the media.

I was irritated with the way journalists continued to write about Dr Sant, and was wondering when someone would have the decency to write things as they are and show respect to the person, first of all, before showing respect to the politician.

That editorial was what I was looking for.

Paul Caruana

Birkirkara