Moviment Graffitti has submitted its feedback to the Government’s proposal on assisted voluntary euthanasia, affirming its support for the right of individuals to choose to end their suffering when faced with terminal or incurable illnesses. The organisation believes that personal autonomy in such deeply sensitive decisions must be respected, and that no individual should be forced to endure pain and suffering due to restrictive laws or imposed beliefs.

At the same time, Moviment Graffitti recognises that assisted voluntary euthanasia is a complex social issue requiring careful regulation to prevent abuse and ensure decisions are genuinely voluntary. Its submission emphasises the necessity of a strong legal framework, alongside accessible, high-quality palliative care and community support, to protect vulnerable individuals and safeguard their dignity.

A central concern in Moviment Graffitti’s feedback is the current eligibility criterion, which restricts access based on a six-month prognosis. This timeframe is arbitrary and exclusionary, potentially harming patients’ psychological wellbeing by pressuring them into rushed decisions. Instead, we propose that the law should allow assisted voluntary euthanasia for all individuals suffering from incurable, life-limiting physical illnesses that severely impact quality of life.

Furthermore, the proposed exclusion of disabilities or illnesses associated with old age is overly broad and subjective, risking unjust denial of access and legal uncertainty for both patients and healthcare providers.

Moviment Graffitti stated that private institutions should be excluded from providing the service of assisted voluntary euthanasia, in order to ensure continued accessibility and to prevent euthanasia from becoming a means of monetary profiteering.

In addition, Moviment Graffitti stressed the need to improve healthcare structures. This includes enhancing palliative care education from university level onwards, integrating end-of-life care into all relevant healthcare training, and increasing public awareness through clear, accessible information about all options available.

Moviment Graffitti is also proposing increased funding to develop specialised palliative and hospice care facilities that are accessible to all, regardless of financial or social status.

Above all, assisted voluntary euthanasia must remain a last resort, only considered after all other medical and supportive care options have been thoroughly explored and made available without judgment or barriers.

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Il-Moviment Graffitti jippreżenta l-fehma tiegħu favur l-introduzzjoni tal-ewtanażja volontarja assistita

Il-Moviment Graffitti ssottometta l-kummenti tiegħu dwar il-proposta tal-Gvern rigward l-ewtanażja volontarja assistita, u afferma l-appoġġ tiegħu għad-dritt tal-individwi li jagħżlu li jtemmu t-tbatija tagħhom meta jkunu qed jaffaċċjaw mard terminali jew li ma jistax jiġi mfejjaq. L-għaqda temmen li l-awtonomija personali f’deċiżjonijiet tant sensittivi għandha tiġi rrispettata, u li ħadd m’għandu jiġi mġiegħel ibati minħabba liġijiet restrittivi jew xi twemmin impost.

Fl-istess waqt, il-Moviment Graffitti jagħraf li l-ewtanażja volontarja assistita hija kwistjoni soċjali kumplessa li teħtieġ regolamentazzjoni bir-reqqa sabiex jiġi evitat l-abbuż u biex jiġi żgurat li d-deċiżjonijiet jittieħdu b’mod verament volontarju. L-għaqda qed tenfasizza l-ħtieġa ta’ qafas legali b’saħħtu, flimkien ma’ kura paljattiva ta’ kwalità għolja u appoġġ komunitarju aċċessibbli, sabiex jiġu protetti l-individwi vulnerabbli u tiġi ssalvagwardjata d-dinjità tagħhom.

Tħassib ċentrali fil-kummenti tal-Moviment Graffitti huwa l-kriterju ta’ eliġibbiltà attwali, li jirrestrinġi l-aċċess abbażi ta’ pronjożi ta’ sitt xhur. Dan huwa limitu arbitrarju u esklużiv, u jista’ joħloq pressjoni psikoloġika fuq il-pazjenti biex jieħdu deċiżjonijiet mgħaġġla. Minflok, qed nipproponu li l-liġi għandha tippermetti l-ewtanażja volontarja assistita għal kull persuna li qed tbati minn mard fiżiku li ma jistax jiġi mfejjaq u li jillimita serjament il-kwalità tal-ħajja.

Barra minn hekk, l-esklużjoni proposta għal diżabilitajiet jew mard relatat mal-età hija wisq wiesgħa u suġġettiva, u tirriskja li l-aċċess jiġi rrifjutat b’mod inġust u li tinħoloq inċertezza legali kemm għall-pazjenti kif ukoll għall-professjonisti fil-kura tas-saħħa.

Il-Moviment Graffitti qed jisħaq ukoll li istituzzjonijiet privati m’għandhomx jitħallew jipprovdu servizz ta’ ewtanażja volontarja assistita, sabiex tiġi żgurata l-aċċessibilità kontinwa u biex ma ssirx mezz ta’ profitt monetarju.

Barra minn hekk, il-Moviment Graffitti enfasizza l-ħtieġa li jitjiebu l-istrutturi tal-kura tas-saħħa. Dan għandu jinkludi titjib fl-edukazzjoni dwar il-kura paljattiva mil-livell universitarju ’l quddiem, l-integrazzjoni tal-kura fit-tmiem tal-ħajja fi ħdan it-taħriġ kollu rilevanti tal-kura tas-saħħa, u żieda fl-għarfien pubbliku permezz ta’ informazzjoni ċara u aċċessibbli dwar l-għażliet kollha disponibbli.

Il-Moviment Graffitti qed jipproponi wkoll żieda fil-finanzjament biex jiġu żviluppati faċilitajiet speċjalizzati għall-kura paljattiva u hospice li jkunu aċċessibbli għal kulħadd, irrispettivament mill-istatus finanzjarju jew soċjali.

Fuq kollox, l-ewtanażja volontarja assistita għandha tibqa’ l-aħħar għażla, li tiġi kkunsidrata biss wara li jkunu ġew esplorati u pprovduti l-għażliet mediċi u ta’ appoġġ kollha mingħajr ebda ġudizzju jew xkiel.