The vast majority of respondents to a recent Lovin Malta poll said they agree with the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia.

The poll was not intended as a scientific survey but as an initial snapshot of public opinion right after the public consultation period on the proposed reform came to a close.

With around 800 people taking part, some 84% said they agree with voluntary assisted euthanasia.

Prime Minister Robert Abela said he intends to push forward with some kind of legislation but not before carrying out a careful analysis of the thousands of submissions in the public consultation.

He stressed that the legalisation of euthanasia and the improvement of palliative care should be viewed as two separate arguments. Indeed, he said the government invested a significant amount of money into Hospice Malta prior to launching the consultation document to send across the message that euthanasia legalisation won’t come at the cost of palliative care.