Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/698019
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 29 JUNE 2016 7 JAMES DEBONO JUST over one-half of 356 doctors from various fields agree with in- tensifying analgesia at the end of life with the possibility of hasten- ing death. But only six in 100 would sedate patients at the end of life to hasten death, according to a study. The study was conducted by Pierre Mallia and Jurgen Abela in 2013 and is published in the latest edition of the Malta Medical Jour- nal. It also shows that 32.1% of Mal- tese doctors have also withdrawn or withheld treatment to terminally ill patients. When asked whether they ever received a request for euthana- sia from patients, 11.9% answered positively. But a very solid majority (90.2%) of doctors are against euthanasia. This contrasts with a MaltaToday survey published in March which showed 53% of the general popu- lation agreeing with euthanasia, in cases involving people suffering pain from a terminal illness. Debate on this topic intensified following an interview published in MaltaTo- day with ALS sufferer Joe Magro in February. Magro was diagnosed with ALS, a deadly neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, a year ago. "I do not want to be a burden on anyone. I do not want to be depend- ent 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," he said in the interview. The latest study notes that while doctors are in favour of intensifi- cation of analgesia (using opiods) even if this might theoretically im- pact the length of survival of the patient, they strongly support the statement that physicians should always aim to preserve life. The study shows that most doc- tors are guided by their religious beliefs when it comes to end of life (EoL) care. 47% replied that religion is "very important" when making decisions on end of life. "Doctors believe in preserving life as a guiding principle at the end of life, but do not shun intensification of analgesia at the end of life". The questionnaire was sent by post to all medical practitioners who were listed on the Principal Register of the Medical Council of Malta as on November 2013. 396 doctors returned the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 39.3% The study concludes that doc- tors commonly face end of life de- cisions. In general, they find this topic difficult and challenging and rely on their religion as the major source of guidance. The study refers to the absence of a legal framework and official guid- ance on this topic, which further adds to the difficulty in such situ- ations. "There needs to be broad guid- ance to doctors in such situations to support them better." A survey of 160 general praction- ers published last year had revealed that over 14% of them received re- quests for euthanasia from their ailing patients. 41.1% of the 160 doctors surveyed had intensified analgesia at the end of life, but only 7.5% had sedated patients. 15% of GPs withdrew or withheld treat- ment in the care of these patients. News PROVISION OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATION SERVICES PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR THE EU PRESIDENCY 2017 AND EU FUNDS of the Council of the 2017 Maltese Presidency European Union 2017 MALTESE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU The documents are available to download online from www.etenders.gov.mt The Parliamentary Secretariat for EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, within the Ministry for European Aairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, noties that a call for the provision of marketing and communication services in relation to Malta's Presidency of the Council of the EU 2017 has been issued. VACANCY ASSISTANT PLANNING OFFICERS The Planning Authority is committed to ensure that land use meet the needs of today's society and future communities. PLANNING AUTHORITY www.pa.org.mt The role requires a person/s who will be responsible for assessing and processing planning applications and preparing policies, reports and plans. The person is required to have: Qualifications: A first degree in planning or in a discipline related to planning or to one of the Planning Directorate's specialised areas of work or qualified as architect and civil engineer with at least some land use planning experience. Skills: Research and Information analysis; Communication and Interpersonal; Creative in identifying solutions to planning issues; Time management, quality control and monitoring; Report writing skills including ability to deal with pressure and abuse; Act with tact and firmness in challenging situations. The above post is for a definite period of three years, with the possibility of renewal. Interested candidates are advised to submit their application, together with a detailed curriculum vitae to: The Human Resources Manager Planning Authority Ref: Assistant Planning Officers ETC Permit No 165/2016 by email on jobapplications@pa.org.mt For further information visit our website: www.pa.org.mt/org-current-openings-at-pa. Closing Date: 6th July 2016 vacancy 200616.indd 1 23/06/2016 15:53:39 12% of doctors face requests for euthanasia Doctors against euthanasia but agree with hastening death by other means STUDENTS enrolled in formal and home-grown tertiary educa- tion during the academic year 2014-2015 amounted to 13,216, a 5.1% increase from the previous academic year. Overall, female students exceed- ed males, outnumbering males at all levels with the exception of ISCED level 8, and accounted for 55.9 per cent of total students in tertiary education. Students following a Bachelor's or equivalent course (ISCED 6) amounted to 53.2 per cent of total students at tertiary level. This was followed by courses at Master's or equivalent level – ISCED level 7 (26.8 per cent) – ISCED level 5 (19.2 per cent) and ISCED level 8 (0.9 per cent). In total, tertiary stu- dents increased by 5.1 per cent in 2015. Females increased by 6.9 per cent, while males increased by 2.8 per cent over the previous academ- ic year. The average age for students en- rolled in a Bachelor's or equivalent course (ISCED 6) was 22 years, while the average for Master's or equivalent courses (ISCED 7) was 28 years. The most popular field of study in tertiary education was business, administration and law with 25.7 per cent of total students. This was followed by students in health and welfare (18.9 per cent), arts and hu- manities (12.0 per cent), education (9.9 per cent), and social sciences, journalism and information (9.5 per cent). Figures show that male students had a stronger presence in the fields of information and com- munication technologies (82.4 per cent of all students in this field), engineering, manufacturing and construction (79.4 per cent) and agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary (60.5 per cent). On the other hand, females constituted the majority in the field of educa- tion (80.2 per cent of all students in this field), followed by health and welfare (67.5 per cent), and social sciences, journalism and informa- tion (62.2 per cent). The remaining fields of education showed a bal- anced enrolment between genders. Out of the total students en- rolled in tertiary education during 2014/2015, 6.2 per cent were for- eigners. The highest presence of foreign- ers in tertiary education was in ISCED level 7, where 14.2 per cent of students at this level were non- Maltese nationals, mainly from the United Kingdom. Overall, foreign students in- creased by 11.1 per cent when compared to the previous academ- ic year. Women keep exceeding men in tertiary education