Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne - a Paediatric Surgeon by profession - has said that in the event of his professional opinion being sought in cases involving children in future, he will consult the Cabinet before agreeing to intervene.
He was replying to a series of questions posed by this newsroom following the publication of the new, watered-down, Code of Ethics for Ministers earlier this week, which allows Cabinet members to hold a second job, provided that it is deemed to be in the national interest. The former Code of Ethics prevented members of Cabinet from practicing their private profession whereas the new version gives Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries the opportunity to request Cabinet clearance to continue with their private practice "if this is in the national interest".
The new Code of Ethics was drawn up some 10 months ago but the Code was only published this week.
Asked whether he intends practising his private profession in future and if he would intervene in specific medical cases at Mater Dei hospital, Dr Fearne said that he was aware of the Code of Ethics, since it "was discussed in Cabinet some months back". However, when he was appointed PS in April 2014 he said that he would continue to care for four specific children under his care at Mater Dei at the time who suffered from serious conditions.
"In April/May of 2014 I was able to hand over their care to my colleagues. Since then I have not practiced my medical profession.
"If, at some point in the future and while I am still a part of Cabinet, it is evident that my medical services are required in the national interest, then I will take up the matter with Cabinet," Dr Fearne continued.
He said that the same would apply in the event that he needed to intervene medically in a case privately and not at Mater Dei.
Before the new Code of Ethics came into place, there were a number of controversies involving members of Cabinet due to the fact that the Code prevailing at the time conflicted with their dual role.
In fact, Parliamentary Secretary Franco Mercieca and the then Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia had come under fire for continuing with their practice despite the fact that they formed part of Cabinet. Dr Farrugia is no longer a Minister and is the PL whip and an MP, while Dr Mercieca - an eye surgeon - had relinquished his post of PS to continue with his profession while also serving as a backbencher.