Watch: ‘Pregnant Women’s Lives Were Always Prioritised’ – MAM President On Abortion Law
Newly elected Medical Association of Malta (MAM) President Patrick Sammut said that the lives of pregnant women were prioritised before the abortion reform and remain in safe hands after.
Lovin Malta sat down with Sammut to discuss the new presidency of the doctors’ union following some 24 years of the same leadership. One of his main priorities is to reform and modernise the statute and with that, electoral processes and lines of communication will be greatly improved.
In addition to his plans, we touched upon some more contentious and controversial topics like euthanasia, artificial intelligence and abortion.
MAM has traditionally taken a conservative stance on abortion. Back in 2022, the government proposed the initial draft bill that sought to protect doctors and mothers from prosecution if pregnancy termination was needed to save the life or health of the woman from grave danger.
However, the union pushed for more specific terminology that would restrict the scope under which abortion would be allowed and for a board of three medical professionals (as opposed to one) to determine whether or not an abortion is necessary.
The ultimate bill outlines permits abortion if a medical team of three doctors agrees that a mother’s life is facing immediate risk. The team would consist of two obstetricians or gynaecologists (one of whom would be the obstetrician who carries out the intervention) and a specialist in the condition from which the pregnant woman is suffering.
This has garnered criticism from the pro-choice lobby for being too restrictive.
Responding to whether this is too complicated and could have the inverse effect – due to the amount of professionals needed to make this fateful decision – Sammut said that when a woman’s life can and needs to be saved, it will. This was the case before the amendment and will remain so after.
He showed full confidence in health professionals at Mater Dei who will ultimately make this decision and assured that the life of a pregnant woman will always be put first.
“If a fetus needed to be removed because a mother’s life was in danger, it was done. It was very common sense and there were no ethical issues around it because you either do it or you’re going to lose two lives instead of one,” he said, speaking of what would happen before the law was changed.
Responding to whether requiring three doctors’ approval could further complicate a life-or-death situation, he assured that these are very experienced people and that whoever needs to come in will, no matter the time of emergency.
“When a clinical decision is necessary to save a woman, they don’t mess around.”
Sammut further stated that he has no current plans to consult with the medical sector and the union members to see whether the overall stance on abortion has shifted. He explained that it’s a very contentious topic and taking a unified position would be very complex considering the organisation consists of 2,000 members.
However, he did admit that he has noticed an increase in debate among doctors, and society as a whole, on the topic.
READ NEXT: Senglea Motorbike Crash Victim Identified As Charlo Calleja
