Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1141804
19 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JULY 2019 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications No lessons learnt THE recent cases of damaged build- ings due to demolition and excavation works should have caused a tremor in the country. The scope of stopping all works altogether was rightly intended to give a shock to everyone in the hope that one reflects and changes course. Instead, in true Mediterranean style, nothing will change. The arrogant will remain ruthless as before, money con- tinues to spin, the victim left by him- self to lick his wounds. Sooner or later, there will be the one who will take justice in his own hands. And then, maybe only then, will some lessons be learnt. For let us reason things out. Why should one be at peace in his home (his castle) only to end up bankrupt because someone else had decided to build next door? Why is it that the media failed to stress on this part of the story? And why is it that the authorities that be, first and foremost the Planning Au- thority, the Environment Authority, the Police, etc. failed to defend the victim? This is sheer shame. I conclude by raising a minor is- sue in comparison. When is it going to be compulsory that neighbours sharing common parts must appoint a responsible person to be the point of reference in case of a problem? And did anyone notice the architec- tural beauty of the knocked down building in Mimosa Street? Can you please as editor ask in our name why that building, a jewel in architecture when compared to the boxes being designed nowadays, had been demol- ished? This is a shame on all of us. George Calleja, Attard Doctors and abortion DR Mario Stellini wrote an op-ed in The Times of Malta in support of the current (draconian) anti-abortion law. I submitted a comment, but it seems that the online editor of that esteemed newspaper deemed it to be offensive … my comment was de- leted. This was what I wrote: Dr Mario Stellini is being disin- genuous. He is violating not only his oath, the Declaration of Geneva (the modern Hippocratic Oath), but also breaching the Code of Medical Eth- ics of the World Medical Association (WMA) to which he is commit- ted through his membership in the Malta Medical Association (MAM, a constituent member of the WMA). Instead of quoting us ancient Ro- man practices, he needs to catch up with modern medical practices as laid down by the WMA. The oath which he signed imposes upon him the duty to, among other things, respect the autonomy and dignity of the patient; not permit considerations of creed, or any other factor, to intervene between his duty and his patient; not use his medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat. Women's rights are human rights. Malta's Constitution enshrines these rights. Article 32(a) is very clear about the right to "life, liberty, and the security of the person". A zygote is not a person. An em- bryo is not a person. Neither is a foetus. The abortion law is a clear violation of that Constitutional right of the pregnant woman. The WMA's Code of Medical Eth- ics is based on three solid pillars: Compassion, Competence, and Au- tonomy. Compassion toward the patient is paramount. Dr Stellini is failing to appreciate the damage that can be caused to the pregnant woman's mental health, through denial of abortion. Mental health is the foun- dation of good health. Competence, that is, the skills of, and experience in, the practice of medicine, is imperative. Dr Stellini is denying the right of other medical practitioners who have a different point of view. Autonomy is split in two: (i) Au- tonomy of the professional – the freedom of the doctor to perform according to accepted medical prac- tice – is unassailable. Dr Stellini is dissing the multitude of medical doctors throughout the EU and the rest of the civilized world who pro- vide abortion services. He is, in essence, declaring them to be murderers. (ii) Autonomy of the patient – the wishes of the patient trumps that of the physician. Regardless of how Dr Stellini feels about abortion, he has no right to impose his beliefs on his patient; and much less on those pa- tients who are not his. In addition, the WMA Statement on Medically-Indicated Termination of Pregnancy demands that every physician "must work with relevant institutions and authorities to ensure that no woman is harmed because medically-indicated termination of pregnancy services are unavailable." Dr Stellini, and the other Doctors for Life, are doing the exact opposite of what is demanded of them, by that WMA Statement; thus, through their actions, they are renegades… and if MAM were to live up to its com- mitment to WMA, it would haul in these upstarts to, at the very least, a serious lecture on medical ethics. C. John Zammit, Welland, ON, Canada