Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg has announced that a Bill on Advanced Medical Directives will soon be presented in Parliament, aiming to strengthen personal autonomy in medical decision-making, particularly in situations where individuals may wish to refuse certain treatments.

Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg confirmed that legislation on Advanced Medical Directives, commonly referred to as a “Living Will”, is in the pipeline and will be tabled in Parliament in the coming months. She was speaking in an interview with Kullhadd.

The proposed law seeks to reinforce patients’ rights to decide in advance which medical treatments they would or would not want administered in specific circumstances, particularly in cases involving serious illness or incapacity.
The announcement follows an extensive public consultation on Voluntary Assisted Euthanasia, which attracted around 15,000 submissions, the largest public participation recorded in a government consultation exercise. Buttigieg described the feedback as “very encouraging,” noting that it included well-researched proposals both in favour of and against the introduction of euthanasia.

She explained that the Living Will proposal received broad agreement, including from members of the medical profession. It is within this context that Government is now considering moving forward with specific legislation on Advanced Medical Directives.

Cannabis reform

Addressing questions on cannabis reform, Buttigieg reiterated that cannabis has not been legalised in Malta, stressing that the current framework provides for partial decriminalisation and strict regulation. She pointed to scientific evidence indicating that regulated cannabis production reduces harm among responsible users.

Tests conducted at the University of Malta laboratory found that cannabis grown in line with regulations overseen by the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) did not contain pesticide traces. In contrast, illegal cannabis seized by police was found to contain harmful pesticides.

Buttigieg noted that further amendments were introduced during this legislature to curb abuse of the reform and increase penalties for those attempting to exploit it. Among the measures implemented was the establishment of an enforcement unit within ARUC to address public complaints, including issues related to cannabis odours in residential areas.

Social media reform

Turning to the ongoing public consultation on social media reform, the Parliamentary Secretary acknowledged the rapid pace of the digital revolution. She said Government intends to harness the opportunities presented by technological advancement while ensuring adequate safeguards are in place to protect users, particularly children and adolescents, from potential harm.

Domestic violence reports

On domestic violence, Buttigieg said increased awareness campaigns and legislative reforms have led to greater reporting of cases to the police. She argued that the rise in reported cases reflects improved public awareness and trust in support structures.

She highlighted the recent opening of a third domestic violence hub in Mtarfa and the introduction of a social housing assistance scheme for victims, from which one family has already benefited.

Family court reform currently under discussion is also expected to strengthen the handling of domestic violence cases, particularly in separation proceedings. Buttigieg emphasised that domestic violence, as defined in Maltese law, extends beyond intimate partner abuse and includes cases involving children and parents.

The Government, she said, remains committed to addressing domestic violence through legislative reform, support services and continued public awareness efforts.