Ittra Pastorali mill-Isqfijiet ta’ Malta u Għawdex dwar L-Ewtanasja: Kompassjoni u għożża sal-aħħar. 31/05/2025.
Niżżel l-Ittra Pastorali tal-Isqfijiet Maltin dwar l-ewtanasja volontarja assistita …
L-Ittra Pastorali mill-Isqfijiet ta’ Malta u Għawdex
F’pajjiżna, bħalissa, għaddejja konsultazzjoni pubblika dwar l‑hekk imsejħa ‘Ewtanasja Volontarja Assistita’. Fil‑White Paper, ippubblikata mill‑Gvern, qed jiġi propost li persuna li tkun għalqet it‑18‑il sena u li tkun tbati minn marda terminali, u li t‑tobba jagħtuha sitt xhur ħajja jew inqas, tkun tista’ toqtol lilha nnifisha bl‑assistenza ta’ professjonisti mediċi fl‑isptar jew id‑dar.
Nixtiequ nistidnuk biex tiżen sew u tara xi tfisser dak li tgħid il‑White Paper għall-futur tiegħek u tal-maħbubin tiegħek, biex inti tkun f’pożizzjoni li tagħti l-opinjoni tiegħek fil-proċess ta’ konsultazzjoni.
Kull ħajja umana hi għażiża
Dak li qed jiġi propost hu, fil‑fatt, suwiċidju assistit, jiġifieri li xi ħadd ikollu l‑għajnuna neċessarja biex ineħħi ħajtu billi jieħu dak li l‑White Paper issejjaħ “mediċina”, ipprovduta mis‑servizz tas‑saħħa nazzjonali. Dan ifisser li biex imut, il‑pazjent stess irid jieħu d-doża li toqtlu.
Dawk li qed jipproponu l-White Paper qed jisħqu li l-proċess fih diversi “salvagwardji” li jillimitaw min jista’ jirċievi din it-taħlita li toqtol, kif ukoll jipproteġi kontra li qraba jew terzi jisfurzaw lill-pazjenti jirċevuha. Issa aħna nafu, mill‑esperjenza ta’ diversi pajjiżi oħra, li maż‑żmien kollox imur għan‑niżla — dawn is‑salvagwardji jispiċċaw, u jiżdiedu dawk li jtemmu ħajjithom.
Il‑ħajja tibda ssir piż flok don, u d-dmir mediku li jieħu ħsieb il-ħajja jista’ jsir ukoll dmir li toqtol. Id-dritt li toqtol lilek innifsek jaf isir id-dmir li toqtol lilek innifsek.
Imma rridu ngħidu wkoll li bis‑salvagwardji kollha proposti — u salvagwardji qatt ma huma ħielsa mill‑abbuż — il‑qtil ta’ persuna waħda jibqa’ qtil. Għalina kull ħajja umana hi għażiża u prezzjuża. Ħadd ma għandu jħossu li ma jiswa għalxejn. Min qed jaħseb biex itemm ħajtu ma għandux isib mill-Istat assistenza biex jagħmel suwiċidju, imma assistenza biex jgħix b’dinjità, imdawwar bi mħabba u b’għożża. Il‑kmandament ta’ Alla “la toqtolx”, li hu prinċipju mnaqqax f’qalbna u fil‑qalba tas‑soċjetà tagħna, jibqa’ dejjem jiggwidana f’ħajjitna.
Ma jkun qatt li aħna nkunu kompliċi fil‑qtil. Huma ħafna t‑tobba li jagħrfu r‑responsabbiltà li għandhom li jgħixu b’fedeltà l‑wegħda li għamlu li jsalvaw il‑ħajja, mhux jgħinu fil‑qtil tagħha.
Bħala Knisja, aħna nagħrfu li din il‑ħidma kostanti tagħna favur il‑ħajja hi kontribut siewi li qed nagħtu għall‑Istrateġija Nazzjonali għall‑Prevenzjoni tas‑Suwiċidju f’Malta, li kienet ippubblikata mill‑Gvern ftit ġimgħat ilu. Din hi strateġija li titlob konsistenza. Il‑White Paper, bil‑proposta ta’ suwiċidju assistit f’każijiet partikulari, timmina din l‑Istrateġija hekk importanti. Il‑ħidma tagħna trid tkun dejjem favur ir‑rispett u l‑ħarsien tal‑ħajja ta’ kull bniedem.
“Għalina kull ħajja umana hi għażiża u prezzjuża. Ħadd ma għandu jħossu li ma jiswa għal xejn.”
“Falliment tal‑imħabba”
Nixtiequ nfakkru l‑kliem ċar tal‑Papa Franġisku, meta spjega li l‑ewtanasja “hi falliment tal‑imħabba, mera ta’ ‘kultura tal‑iskart’ li fiha ‘l‑persuna m’għadniex inħossuha bħala valur primarju li għandna nirrispettawh u nieħdu ħsiebu’ (enċiklika Fratelli Tutti, 18). Tabilħaqq, l‑ewtanasja hi spiss ippreżentata b’mod qarrieqi bħala għamla ta’ kompassjoni. Imma l‑‘kompassjoni’, kelma li tfisser ‘tbati ma’’, ma tinvolvix it‑temma intenzjonata ta’ ħajja, imma pjuttost ir‑rieda li wieħed jaqsam fit‑toqol ta’ dawk li qed jaffaċċjaw l‑aħħar stadji tal‑pellegrinaġġ tagħhom fuq din l‑art”. (Messaġġ lill‑Parteċipanti fis‑Simposju Internazzjonali dwar il‑Kura Paljattiva, Toronto, 21‑23 ta’ Mejju 2024).
L‑aqwa kura possibbli
L‑appell tagħna hu biex l‑isforzi kollha tagħna jkunu indirizzati mhux f’li nipprovdu opportunità ta’ suwiċidju assistit imma f’direzzjoni oħra: li tissaħħaħ, bl‑investiment kollu neċessarju, il‑kura palljattiva għal dawk kollha li jeħtiġuha — nenfasizzaw li għal kollha — biex ikollna l‑aqwa kura possibbli sal‑aħħar mumenti tal‑ħajja.
Ilkoll nafu li baqa’ ħafna xi jsir f’dan il‑qasam. Għalhekk, nappoġġjaw b’mod sħiħ l‑impenji mniżżla fl‑Istrateġija Nazzjonali għall‑Kura Palljattiva f’Malta li l‑Gvern ħareġ ftit ilu.
X’inhi l‑kura palljattiva? Hi kura ħolistika li tnaqqas ħafna t‑tbatija. Mhijiex biss kura medika li ttaffi l‑uġigħ, imma wkoll sapport psikoloġiku, soċjali u spiritwali. Hi għamla ġenwina ta’ kompassjoni.
Fi kliem il‑Papa Franġisku: “Il‑kura palljattiva, waqt li tipprova ttaffi kemm hu possibbli t‑toqol tal‑uġigħ, hija fuq kollox sinjal konkret ta’ qrubija u solidarjetà ma’ ħutna li qed ibatu. Fl‑istess waqt, din l‑għamla ta’ kura tista’ tgħin il‑pazjenti u l‑għeżież tagħhom jaċċettaw il‑vulnerabilità, il‑fraġilità u l‑limitazzjonijiet li jimmarkaw il‑ħajja tal‑bniedem fuq din l‑art.”
F’dan is‑sens, huwa f’waqtu l‑użu ta’ mediċini biex itaffu t‑tbatijiet tal‑persuni f’qagħda kritika, u li jiġu amministrati mhux bil‑ħsieb li tingħata l‑mewt, imma biex itaffu l‑uġigħ, ukoll jekk bħala konsegwenza t‑tul tal‑ħajja jiqsar. Il‑pazjent għandu dritt li jirrifjuta trattament mediku straordinarju u ma jaċċettax trattament sproporzjonat li jikkaġuna tbatija insopportabbli u li ma joffrix tama. Dan id‑dritt qatt m’għandu jiġi mrażżan.
Min se jipproteġi l‑persuni vulnerabbli minn pressjoni minn barra, jew milli jħossuhom ta’ piż fuq il‑familja?
Viċinanza u appoġġ
Irridu nuru kompassjoni ma’ dawk li għaddejjin minn tbatija minħabba l‑mard tagħhom, u speċjalment ma’ dawk li riesqa lejn it‑tmiem ta’ ħajjithom. Fina lkoll dawn għandhom isibu empatija, viċinanza, għożża kbira, appoġġ u l‑kura palljattiva neċessarja.
Hawn min, meta jkun wasal fi stat kritiku u dipendenti, jibda jħossu piż fuq il‑qraba jew fuq oħrajn qrib tiegħu. Jgħidlek: “ma rridx insallab lil ta’ madwari”. Hawn min jibda jħoss id‑dmir li ħajtu tiġi fi tmiem għax qed ibati jew tilef is‑sens tal‑ħajja u x‑xewqa li jkompli jgħix.
Lil dawn in‑nies irridu nakkumpanjawhom bi mħabba, qatt ma nabbandunawhom, u nagħtuhom kull għajnuna li jeħtieġu fil‑qagħda diffiċli li jinsabu fiha.
Qatt ma għandna b’xi mod inġagħluhom iħossu li jkun aħjar jekk itemmu ħajjithom. Madanakollu, jekk din il‑White Paper issir liġi, min se jipproteġi l‑persuni vulnerabbli minn pressjoni minn barra, jew milli jħossuhom ta’ piż fuq il‑familja?
Apprezzament
Nixtiequ nuru l‑apprezzament kbir tagħna għal tant familji li jieħdu ħsieb persuni b’mard terminali, għall‑ħidma prezzjuża ta’ Hospice Malta — St Michael Hospice huwa dawl ta’ tama fis‑soċjetà Maltija — u ta’ ħafna professjonisti u nies oħra li qed jaħdmu f’dan il‑qasam fl‑isptarijiet u d‑djar ta’ kura. Nitolbu għalihom biex ikomplu jżommu dejjem b’impenn kbir il‑ħarsien tal‑ħajja u d‑dinjità ta’ kull bniedem. Nitolbu biex ilkoll inkunu dejjem ta’ servizz għal min għaddej minn tbatija, bħalma għallimna Ġesù, ta’ qalb ħelwa u umli.
Ejjew noqtlu l‑uġigħ, mhux il‑ħajja. Ejjew nuru kompassjoni u għożża sal‑aħħar.
Nagħtukom il‑barka pastorali tagħna.
Illum is-Sibt, 31 ta’ Mejju 2025, Festa taż-Żjara ta’ Sidtna Marija lill-Qariba Tagħha Eliżabetta.
✠ Charles J. Scicluna
Arċisqof ta’ Malta
✠ Anton Teuma
Isqof ta’ Għawdex
✠ Joseph Galea‑Curmi
Isqof Awżiljarju ta’ Malta
Pastoral Letter: Compassion and care until the end
31/05/202: Pastoral letter on assisted voluntary euthanasia
Download the pastoral letter by the Bishops on voluntary assisted euthanasia
The Pastoral Letter by the Bishops
A public consultation is currently underway in our country regarding so-called ‘Voluntary Assisted Euthanasia’. In a White Paper published by the Government, it is being proposed that patients will be legally permitted to end their own lives with the assistance of medical professionals, either in hospital or at home, if they meet the following conditions: they are over 18, suffering from a terminal illness, and they have been told by doctors they have less than six months to live.
We invite you to reflect carefully, and understand, the implications of the White Paper on your future and that of your loved ones so that you are in a position to add your voice to the consultation process.
Life begins to be considered a burden rather than a gift, and medical duty to care may even become a duty to kill. A right to die can become a duty to die.
Every human life is precious
The voluntary assisted euthanasia being proposed is, in fact, assisted suicide, that is, providing a patient with the necessary tools and assistance to end their own life by self-administering what the White Paper refers to as “medicine”, provided through the national health service. What this means is that the patient will be required to deliver a lethal dose to himself or herself.
Proponents of the White Paper claim that the process contains various “safeguards” to limit who can receive this lethal concoction as well as to protect against coercion by family members and third parties. However, we know from the experience of other countries that, over time, these safeguards are eventually eroded, and more and more people end their lives for one reason or another.
Life begins to be considered a burden rather than a gift, and medical duty to care may even become a duty to kill. A right to die can become a duty to die.
We must also say that despite all the proposed safeguards – and safeguards are never free from abuse – a killing of even one person remains a killing. We consider every human life to be precious and valuable. No one should feel worthless. Someone considering ending his or her life should not receive from the State the assistance to commit suicide, but rather, they should receive the support to live with dignity, surrounded by love and care. God’s commandment “You shall not kill”, a principle engraved in our hearts and at the core of our society, always continues to guide us in life.
We must never be complicit in killing. Many doctors recognise their responsibility to remain faithful to the oath they took to save life and not to help end it.
As a Church, we recognise that our constant work in favour of life is a valuable contribution to the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in Malta, published by the Government just a few weeks ago. This strategy demands consistency. The White Paper, through its proposal of assisted suicide in particular cases, undermines this important strategy. Our mission must always be in favour of respecting and safeguarding the life of every person.
A “failure of love”
We wish to recall the clear words of Pope Francis, when he explained that euthanasia, and we quote, is “a failure of love, a reflection of a ‘throwaway culture’” in which “persons are no longer seen as a paramount value to be cared for and respected” (encyclical Fratelli Tutti, 18). Indeed, euthanasia is often, misleadingly, presented as a form of compassion. However, ‘compassion’, a word that means ‘to suffer with’, does not involve ending a life intentionally, but rather the willingness to share in the suffering of those who are facing the final stages of their journey on this earth. (Message to Participants in the International Symposium on Palliative Care, Toronto, 21–23 May 2024).
The best possible care
There is an alternative: instead of directing our energies at providing opportunities for assisted suicide, our appeal to the State is to strengthen, through all the investment necessary, palliative care for all who need it — and we emphasise for all — so that we can offer the best possible care until the final moments of life.
We all know that much still needs to be done in this respect. That is why we fully support the commitments set out in the National Strategy for Palliative Care in Malta, recently published by the Government.
What is palliative care? It is holistic care that greatly reduces suffering. It is not just medical care to relieve pain, but also psychological, social and spiritual support. It is a genuine form of compassion. In the words of Pope Francis: “Palliative care, while seeking to alleviate the burden of pain as much as possible, is above all a concrete sign of closeness and solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering. At the same time, this kind of care can help patients and their loved ones to accept the vulnerability, frailty and finitude that mark human life in this world.”
In this sense, it is appropriate to use medicine to ease the suffering of those in critical condition, and to administer this not with the intention of causing death, but to relieve pain, even if, as a consequence, life may be shortened. We believe a patient also has the right to refuse extraordinary medical treatment and to decline disproportionate treatment that causes unbearable suffering and offers no hope. That right is unfettered.
Who will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family?
Closeness and support
We must show compassion to those who are suffering due to illness, especially those nearing the end of life. In us, they should find empathy, closeness, great care, support and the necessary palliative care.
When some people reach a critical and dependent state, they may begin to feel like a burden on their relatives or those close to them. They may say: “I do not want to be a burden on those around me.” Some may start to feel as their duty to end their life because they are suffering, see no meaning in life or have lost the will to continue living.
We must accompany these people with love, not abandon them, and give them all the help they need in the difficult and trying circumstances in which they find themselves.
We must never, in any way, make them feel that it would be better if they ended their life. Yet, if this White Paper becomes law, who will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family?
Appreciation
We would like to express our deep appreciation to the many families who care for relatives and friends with terminal illnesses, for the invaluable work of Hospice Malta — St Michael Hospice is a beacon of hope in Maltese society — and for the many professionals and others working in this field in hospitals and care homes. We pray for them that they may continue, with great dedication, to uphold the protection of life and the dignity of every person. We pray that we may always be at the service of those who are suffering, as Jesus taught us, with a heart that is gentle and humble.
Let us end pain, not life. Let us show compassion and care until the end.
We bestow our pastoral blessing upon each and every one of you.
Today, Saturday, 31st May 2025, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth.
✠ Charles J. Scicluna
Archbishop of Malta
✠ Anton Teuma
Bishop of Gozo
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop of Malta
Ittra Pastorali 2025: Kompassjoni u għożża sal-aħħar (Vidjo bil-Lingwa tas-Sinjali Maltija):