PN organ claims junior minister ‘still advertising services’
PN newspaper il-mument levels new accusations against parliamentary secretary; says Rabat clinic still displays Franco Mercieca's name
5 January 2014, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
2 min read
Parliamentary Secretary Franco Mercieca is being accused of advertising his services at a private clinic in Rabat
In fresh accusations levelled against Parliamentary Secretary Franco Mercieca, PN media organ il-mument has claimed that Mercieca is disregarding the ministerial code of ethics by advertising his services as an ophthalmologist at a private clinic in Rabat.
Despite the parliamentary code of ethics dictating that ministers and parliamentary secretaries are expected not to continue with private work to devote their whole time to official duties, the Nationalist Party newspaper is claiming that Franco Mercieca was still advertising his services, despite already being named in a libel case for levelling similar accusations.
"Upon a patient being presented with an updated list of the consultants that conduct their practice at the private clinic in Rabat, Franco Mercieca was among the names," it said.
In an effort to dismiss arguments that the list is not updated, il-mument said that even though the list was updated with the new hours and dates of fellow consultants, Franco Mercieca as an ophthalmologist is still present.
The December 15 edition of the Sunday newspaper claimed that the Labour MP was still advertising his services at a private clinic in Victoria, Gozo - only to be named in a libel case by Mercieca.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Franco Mercieca's head of communications had "categorically denied" the allegations and insisted that a simple advert on the façade of the Joseph's Dispensing Opticians did not mean that he was offering his private services.
"Consequently, due to the fact that the report solely sought to tarnish his name, Franco Mercieca has named PN media organ media.link communications in a libel case," a spokesperson to the parliamentary secretariat had said in reaction to il-mument's December 15 report.
Citing Mercieca's specialist profession as the only ophthalmic surgeon specialising in cornea and anterior segment surgery, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had granted a limited waiver to Mercieca, granting permission to continue conducting eye surgery in the case of patients requiring procedures only he could perform locally.
However, in June, an undercover investigation revealed that the parliamentary secretary was still carrying out laser surgery and cataracts operations at a private hospital, Joseph Muscat had said that Mercieca was in the process of phasing out his private practice by end of September.
Under political pressure, Mercieca later agreed to stop all private operations.
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One may ask. Why does such a talented ophthalmologist want to give up his chosen profession to enter politics? Here is Dr Mercieca one of the top, if not the top ophthalmologist in Malta and Gozo trading his Doctorate for politics? What draws these people to enter in the field of politics? Is it the feel of power? Is it the perks that go along with politics? ooooooops I forgot there are no perks in politics? Believe that, and you are free to pull the other finger anytime. You pick the finger? Dr Mercieca is entitled to his opinion and his choice of employment, but when he chose to enter politics he neglected many of his patients. But again that was still his prerogative to do so. He must have had his reasons why he gave up his practice and his patients. But Dr Mercieca cannot have the cake and eat it too. Unfortunately he chose to go into politics. I think it is a big shame to loose such a talented Doctor to politics. Other doctors did us a huge favor when they entered politics because they were not so good at their profession to start with. Hopefully after another four years Dr Mercieca will decide to come back and restart his practice as an ophthalmologist where he can do a lot of good. All in all when a person gets an itch for something the only way to get rid of it is to scratch that itch, otherwise one never knows?
