Lawyer Lara Dimitrijevic, who is also representing Andrea Prudente in her cases, has stated that the proposed abortion amendments are a far cry from what women in Malta should be entitled to in terms of healthcare.

Dimitrijevic said this while clarifying a number of other misconceptions that are currently circling around the ongoing controversy, as Malta discusses amendments to its current abortion total ban.

“What is being proposed in the tabled bill, is a far cry from what women in Malta should be entitled to in terms of their health care,” Dimitrijevic said.

“The existing legislation (total ban) is going against the state’s obligation to protect patients’ lives.”

“As per Article two of the European Convention for Human Rights – The right to life, Malta has a positive obligation to make regulations compelling hospitals, whether private or public, to adopt appropriate measures for the protection of patients’ lives. (This was confirmed in a number of judgments of the European Court for Human Rights),” she outlined.

She also added that apart from the risk to life, there are a number of health conditions that can jeopardise a woman’s health, including mental health.

“These are just a few situations. Before saying outright no, never, no way, opposed, just stop and listen to women. Their stories are real, painful, and heartbreaking,” she appealed.