The first public consultation meeting on voluntary assisted euthanasia took place on Friday evening, as part of the consultation process for this envisioned policy introduction. This meeting was attended by several people who expressed their views on the public document.

People from all walks of life convened at the Fgura Local Council Hall on Friday evening to share their opinions on the subject. Among them were several courageous people who have experienced the suffering caused by terminal illnesses and expressed these views in the context of the voluntary assisted euthanasia public consultation.

In this meeting, opinions varied on the subject matter and on the public consultation itself; while some people thought that the document should have been more open, others expressed their views against voluntary assisted euthanasia altogether.

Some persons in attendance shared that after witnessing such suffering up close through a loved one - some of whom tragically succumbed to their conditions - they now hold the understanding that this should be perceived as a personal choice linked to upholding a person's dignity. Hence, these persons argued that one's dignity should never be denied - not even at the end of one's life.

Several speakers expressed that the public document offers peace of mind in the fact that it stresses the option for voluntary assisted euthanasia to be a voluntary choice that a person can only make for themselves.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality, Rebecca Buttigieg, participated in this meeting and was primarily listening to what others had to say.

Stressing that the government must listen to everyone's opinion, PS Buttigieg shared that over 140 submissions have been received as part of this consultation process.

Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg clarified that palliative care will always remain to be the first choice of care. Hence, she described that the consultation document itself obliges that concerned patients are always referred to palliative care.

She added that as a result, the government is seeking to continue strengthening palliative care to the extent that it has already submitted a strategy with this intention for the next decade.

PS Buttigieg also clarified that old age, disability, and mental health conditions can never be reasons for a person to request voluntary assisted euthanasia, thus dispelling misinformed claims making rounds as of late. Buttigieg commented that for this reason, such conditions are not listed in the official consultation document.

According to the public consultation document, voluntary assisted euthanasia will only be available for request by persons aged 18 or older, who are suffering from a terminal illness that has been medically certified to end the person's life within a span of six months.

Amongst the several safeguards proposed in this policy document is that it will be considered a criminal offence for a person to induce or coerce another person to request undergoing voluntary assisted euthanasia.

It is being proposed that at any time, the person who has requested to die via requested voluntary assisted euthanasia may change their decision.

It is also being proposed that a former judge heading a regulatory board would be required to give final approval on one's decision following a period of reflection.

This public consultation is open until 2 July 2025. The general public is encouraged to participate and provide their comments on the website at http://www.facts.gov.mt/ or at upcoming community meetings to be held in either Gozo or Mosta.