Archbishop Charles J Scicluna issued a short reaction on social media to a government proposal for the introduction and implementation of voluntary assisted dying on Tuesday.

The government on Tuesday launched a two-month public consultation process on its proposed principles and safeguards on Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia, with only those who meet the criteria of having an incurable, irreversible terminal illness expected to cause death within six months would be eligible under the proposed safeguards.

The proposal has long been on the cards: a discussion on euthanasia was a part of the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto, and Prime Minister Robert Abela has said on several occasions that it was time for a mature discussion on the topic to begin.

But Archbishop Scicluna made his views on the matter very clear in a short post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“May death and dying continue to be accompanied by a culture of compassionate care,” he wrote.

“May our Health Professionals always be servants of life with dignity, never dispensers of death.  A big YES to Palliative Care up to our natural end,” he added.

Under the government’s proposals there would be several safeguards to ensure that the process cannot be abused of.

The request for assisted voluntary euthanasia must be made by the patient who is suffering a terminal illness themselves - and no one else, and a patient cannot be offered the option of euthanasia by the medical practitioner - that itself will be considered a criminal offence.

Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg, who announced the proposed reform, also emphasised that nobody could try to influence a patient to go down the euthanasia route.

A patient has to be 18 years of age, and have been a resident of the country for at least 12 months, to avoid commercialisation of the regulatory framework, as in other countries. The patient must have a terminal illness which will terminate their lives in the following six months.