Updated 7.02pm <\/p>\n
Pro-euthanasia lobbyists are being permitted access to vulnerable patients in order to promote their cause, a lawyer alleged today. <\/p>\n
Human rights specialist Tonio Azzopardi filed a judicial protest alleging abuse in local hospital wards. The protest was filed in the First Hall, Civil Court against the permanent secretary within the Health Ministry. <\/p>\n
Dr Azzopardi informed the court that certain individuals are being allowed to approach patients who are seriously ill, in pain and in a fragile state of mind, at a time when hope of survival is all but lost. <\/p>\n
Lobbyists were allegedly asking patients to sign a petition in favour of the introduction of euthanasia in Malta. <\/p>\n
Such behaviour runs counter to the patients' right to life as safeguarded under article 2 of the European Convention and amounts to complicity in the act of terminating one's life, the lawyer argued. <\/p>\n
Dr Azzopardi called upon the hospital authorities to intervene so as to put an end to this allegedly abusive behaviour. <\/p>\n
'Nothing but coercion' - Gift of Life <\/p>\n
In a statement, lobby group Gift of Life said that was \"deeply disturbed\" by the claims and asked whether they could be \"some form of collusion\" between pro-euthanasia lobbyists and authorities. <\/p>\n
The group argued that the claims, \"if confirmed\", would be proof of the dangers of euthanasia. <\/p>\n
It called on the government to launch an independent investigation into the claims. <\/p>\n
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Times of Malta Pro-euthanasia lobbyists preying on vulnerable ... - Times of Malta<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Updated 7.02pm Pro-euthanasia lobbyists are being permitted access to vulnerable patients in order to promote their cause, a lawyer alleged today. Continue reading