CareMalta Group adopts ethical guidelines for elderly care
Group also establishes ethics committee
CareMalta, which manages nine elderly care facilities and six homes operating in the disability and mental health sector through HILA, will adopt the new ethical guidelines for elderly care launched by the Church in Malta in April.
The aim of these guidelines is to promote the protection of life until the very end and emphasise the importance of the right to life.
CareMalta Group announced this during a press conference at Casa Arkati, Mosta, which was attended by Archbishop Charles Scicluna and other representatives of the Archdiocese of Malta.
Archbishop Scicluna said the quality of society depends on its sensitivity to the needs of the elderly and the vulnerable and thanked CareMalta Group for the decision to offer not just care, but also “compassion – a service being provided to everyone, including vulnerable individuals”.
“CareMalta Group has expanded its services and is now adding this ethical dimension, supported by an ethics board. Therefore, you are not only providing medical care but also a deep sense of respect and dignity,” the archbishop said.
“The choice to give space for human dignity until the final moments of life, and to avoid unnecessary therapeutic overtreatment, reflects a balance between faith, science and humanity.”
He added that this provides assurance and peace of mind to all those who use their services and that he hopes the initiative serves an example to other institutions, NGOs and companies.
Also addressing the press conference were Emmanuel Agius, co-author of the guidelines and expert in bioethics; Charles Savona Ventura, professor in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology; Fr Raymond Zammit, head of the Department of Theology and Morality within the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta; Vassallo Group chairperson Natalie Briffa Farrugia; CareMalta Group CEO James Sciriha; and CareMalta Group head of operations Noel Borg.
The document, titled Care for Elderly Persons in Church and Religious Residential Homes in Malta: Ethical Guidelines, looks not only at holistic care but also at the obligations and rights of employees and the responsibilities of the organisation managing the elderly care facility.
While CareMalta Group embraces the values of quality, safety, integrity and development, the group said that the dignity emphasised in these ethical guidelines complements all that CareMalta Group does – addressing vulnerability so that the elderly are not seen as a burden on society.
Ethical guidelines committee
CareMalta Group has established an ethics committee within the company to ensure the ethical guidelines are fully integrated and implemented across all its facilities.
The committee will be composed of several experts: Fr Raymond Zammit, representing the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta; Charles Savona Ventura, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology; Noel Borg, head of operations at CareMalta Group, who also has a keen interest in ethics and is conducting doctoral studies and research; and James Sciriha, CEO of CareMalta Group.
The committee will also consult with other external experts depending on the circumstances being addressed. These may include specialists in geriatrics, psychiatry and paediatrics, among others.