Id-Dar tal-Providenza has stated it is 鈥渇irmly鈥 against the introduction of euthanasia and assisted suicide, warning the proposal could result in a 鈥渄angerous shift in medical ethics鈥. In a statement on Friday, director Mgr Martin Micallef called for further investment in 鈥渉igh quality and holistic palliative care鈥, improved services for persons with disabilities and those with mental health difficulties, and the promotion of the belief that 鈥渆very life is worthy of being lived.鈥. He said assisted suicide and euthanasia both 鈥渟trike at the heart of society鈥 which is duty bound to protect the life of every person, and undermine the principle of inclusion. 鈥淒ignity of life is not achieved through assisted suicide,鈥 Mgr Micallef said. He argued that wherever assisted suicide has been introduced, there has been 鈥渁 cultural shift鈥 in which those who are 鈥渉ealthy鈥 are increasingly valued, while negative attitudes towards those who require care and medical assistance are reinforced. 鈥淓uthanasia promotes a throwaway culture, in which human beings are seen as burdens, and the decision to die may not truly be a personal choice but rather influenced by internalised societal values that devalue care and portray dependence on others as something shameful.鈥 Mgr Micallef added that the current debate places 鈥渁 strong emphasis鈥 on personal autonomy 鈥渁nd paints a picture that it is better to die than to live in dependence鈥. 鈥淭his easily leads from a 鈥榬ight to die鈥 to a 鈥榙uty to die鈥,鈥 he said. He continued that the proposal can lead to a shift in medical ethics noting that there have already been cases where doctors decided to save the life of a person with a disability because they believed that the person had no acceptable quality of life, 鈥渢hus ignoring the person鈥檚 right to life鈥. Id-Dar tal-Providenza also cast doubt on the 鈥渟o-called safeguards鈥 saying they 鈥渞arely remain in place over time鈥 citing cases in Belgium Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Canada as examples. In Canada, assisted suicide occurs in the case of people with disabilities or mental health conditions, while in the Netherlands, parents may choose to end the lives of babies born with disabilities. Mgr Micallef also criticised the consultation period saying it was 鈥渢oo short鈥.