Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/637230
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2016 12 News 'I don't want ALS sufferer calls for introduction of euthanasia, insists he will take his own life once his condition denies him human dignity JURGEN BALZAN 56YEAROLD Joe Magro has po- tentially only a few months, or at best a few years, to live and unless euthanasia is introduced he is reso- lute in taking matters into his own hands Magro was diagnosed with ALS, a deadly neurodegenerative dis- ease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, some 10 months ago. "I do not want to be a burden on anyone. I do not want to be de- pendent on my family to eat, drink, wash or simply go to the bathroom. 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." Magro says this with an eerie calmness but he steadfastly ex- plains that he will only take his life once his condition deteriorates to a point which impedes him from liv- ing independently. "I want to live life to the full but I want to have access to euthanasia once I cannot live life in dignity," he added. Most ALS sufferers live between two and five years after the first signs of the lethal disease emerge and only 10% of people with ALS survive at least 10 years. "I don't know how long I've got, but 90% of ALS sufferers do not live for more than two to five years." Magro, who lost his first wife to cancer 17 years ago, says that he has the full support of his second wife and four children. Asked whether he is scared of taking such a drastic step, Magro said "that's why the State should introduce euthanasia. But in the absence of such a law I'd rather commit suicide than live without dignity." Within a few months of his di- agnosis, Magro could no longer write or shave and although he still works at an ironmonger on a part- time basis he can no longer stand straight for a long time and "walks like a drunk". He also has difficul- ty in speaking flowingly, but this doesn't stop him from expressing himself clearly. Magro says that for the time be- ing he feels good enough to con- tinue working, at least for the next six months, and explains that he is investing some €20,000 in a modi- fied vehicle which will allow him to drive even if he is wheelchair bound. Living in the knowledge that his condition might deteriorate rap- idly any time soon, Magro calls on legislators to start debating the matter urgently. "I do not have much time, and if the law is not in place by the time my condition worsens, my action will also serve as an act of protest." Magro has met politicians from both sides of the political divide, including civil liberties minister Helena Dalli and her PN counter- part, Clyde Puli. While both said that they would be discussing the issue within their respective parties, there is no sign of an imminent parliamentary de- bate. "I am aware of the concerns and reservations on such a law, but the debate needs to start and immi- nently," he said. Magro added that Malta should look at the legislative models in Switzerland, Germany and Can- ada and stressed that "euthana- sia should not be made easy, but should be regulated by a strict legal PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD "I am aware of the concerns… but the debate needs to start and imminently"