Parliament approves ‘living will’ law granting new rights to patients
Law aims to ease burden on families, provide legal certainty for doctors
Parliament has approved legislation introducing “living wills”, granting Maltese citizens the right to formally register advance medical directives about treatments they would refuse in the event of serious future illness.
The law, piloted by Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg, was passed through all stages following extensive consultation with key stakeholders.
The reform places greater emphasis on personal autonomy and the right of patients to make informed decisions about their future care.
Speaking after the vote, Buttigieg said the law would allow individuals to “register advance medical directives about care and extraordinary treatments they would not want in the case of medical conditions they may face in the future”.
She explained that the legislation establishes specific medical circumstances in which such directives would apply, provided they are made following an informed decision with the assistance of a medical professional and are formally registered before a notary.
The parliamentary debate saw broad consensus on the need for the reform, with MPs highlighting its role in strengthening personal autonomy within healthcare.
Buttigieg said the law would also ease the emotional burden on relatives during particularly difficult moments, noting it would “remove emotional burdens on relatives at a moment of great vulnerability, when a person is in a serious health situation and is not in a position to decide for themselves”.
She added that the legislation would also provide legal certainty for medical professionals delivering care.
The law is set to come into force following a transitional period, during which the necessary administrative and regulatory structures are expected to be put in place.
Buttigieg thanked all those involved in drafting the legislation and expressed hope that, with the cooperation of key stakeholders including health authorities, it would provide “a serious and regulated framework that respects the autonomy and dignity of individuals who choose to have an advance medical directive”.
The introduction of living wills has long been under discussion, with proponents arguing that advances in medicine have made it increasingly important for individuals to have a clear say in how far treatment should go in prolonging life in complex or terminal conditions.