The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has requested an urgent meeting with the Hon.Prime Minister and Hon deputy prime minister and Minister for Health regarding the termination of pregnancy in cases of "life threatening" situations.

The proposed drafted bill raises concerns with nurses and midwives who are major stakeholders in providing care and these concerns need to be addressed before the bill becomes law, the MUMN said in a statement.

Abortion is a highly ethical subject which concerns the morality of the person. The bill requires wording which truly safeguards the mother in life threatening situations but also the rights of the unborn child. Steam rolling by ignoring the stakeholders who have to assist in such procedures should not be used by any politician let along the office of the Prime Minister, the MUMN said.

Such a bill should strive to bring unity between all stakeholders by allowing everyone  to contribute so consensus is achieved.    

MUMN said it would be forwarding its proposals to safeguard both the life of the mother and the unborn child. MUMN would be bringing forward both ethical and moral difficulties encountered by its members being midwives or nurses as a result of the abortion law amendments.

The bill presented by the government aims to make it legal for a pregnancy to be terminated if the mother’s health is at risk.