ALS sufferer: Ministers mulling inclusion of euthanasia in electoral programme

The Labour Party is prepared to include euthanasia in its electoral programme for the next general election if no wide consensus is reached in this legislature, senior ministers have told ASL sufferer Joe Magro.

The debate on euthanasia, which remains one of the last taboo subjects in a largely conservative society, intensified following an interview carried by MaltaToday with Joe Magro in February. 

Calling for the introduction of euthanasia he said: “I will live as long as I can but once it gets to a point where I cannot live life in dignity I will commit suicide.”

[WATCH] ALS sufferer’s plea for debate on assisted suicide: ‘I don’t want to live in indignity’

After appearing before the Parliamentary family affairs committee two weeks ago, Magro will now make his case to the Labour parliamentary group on 11 August.  

Magro was diagnosed a year ago with ALS, the deadly neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, and has since been actively campaigning for the introduction of euthanasia, which he says would allow him to live in dignity.  

“I am aware that Labour MPs have differing views on euthanasia but I am pleased that my request was accepted,” Magro said, adding that senior ministers told him that if no wide consensus is reached among legislators, including the opposition, Labour would include euthanasia in its electoral manifesto for the next election.

In a heartfelt letter sent to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Magro’s wife Marlene wrote “I’m writing on Joe’s behalf because his condition impedes him from writing, in the same way he cannot carry out various quotidian tasks.”

The letter explains that Magro’s disease will one day leave him completely paralysed and Marlene writes that together with Magro’s children, she fully comprehends her husband’s plea “because none of us wants to end up in that situation”.

Earlier this month Joe Magro told MPs: 'I want to live, not simply exist"

“Joe always insists with us that once his condition reaches such extremities he will have no other option but to commit suicide if euthanasia is not introduced. This frightens me as I would never be able to live in peace knowing that he could have possibly stayed with us longer and his death could have been a dignified one.” 

Stressing that Magro would be able to live longer in tranquillity if euthanasia were legalised, his wife said he is requesting to make his case to the 38 Labour MPs “as a free man”.

A similar letter was sent to Simon Busuttil, but the opposition leader has informed Magro that the PN must discuss the matter internally before deciding whether to hear his case. 

So far, the only party to pronounce itself clearly on the issue has been the Green Party which surprisingly opposes legislation for euthanasia, and called instead for a debate on the introduction of a living will for Maltese patients. 

AD chairman Arnold Cassola claimed that a debate on euthanasia would be “very premature” and equivalent to a discussion on assisted suicide.

This week, Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech warned that euthanasia “could never be in a person’s best interest” in a letter sent to MPs.

The bishops argued that the strong sense of autonomy human beings enjoy today does not give them “the right to unilaterally decide to end one’s life because of severe suffering, disability, or for other inconvenient reasons,” adding that the protection of life exceeds the right to liberty. 

In a composed reaction, Magro said “I am happy the Catholic Church has reacted because they keep the debate alive.” 

While underlining the Church’s “right and duty” to speak out about moral issues, Magro said the Church “should not impose its beliefs on the rest of the country. It would do a great disservice to the country if the Church once again wages a war as it did, to its own detriment, in the divorce referendum. Introducing euthanasia would give people like me the option to choose a dignified death.” 

In his appearance before the family affairs committee two weeks ago Magro told MPs: “I want to live, not simply exist.” 

Magro said parliament should consider the individual’s right to choose to die, but stressed that such a choice should only be granted to patients of terminal diseases that doctors certify as having no possible cure. 

Euthanasia is illegal but a recent survey showed that 12% of doctors said they had received requests for assisted suicide from their patients. 

A separate MaltaToday survey carried out in March showed 53% of the general population agreeing with euthanasia, in cases involving people suffering pain from a terminal illness.

“You, as politicians should consider a person’s rights. And this is my right,” Magro said. “What if it were your parents, or your children, who were asking you for this? Consider that.”