What’s The Difference Between Euthanasia & Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia?

Euthanasia refers to the broad act of intentionally ending the life of a person.

It can be voluntary (done at the patient’s request), non-voluntary (the patient cannot consent e.g. if they’re in a coma), or involuntary (done against a person’s will – and is illegal and unethical).

Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia (VAE) refers to a legal, voluntary process.

The patient requests to end their life due to unbearable suffering, is assisted by a medical professional, and takes the final action themselves.

The patient is at the centre of it all.

What is being proposed exactly?

The document proposes that only mentally competent adults, aged 18 and over, who have been officially residing in Malta for at least 12 months, may apply for VAE — but only if they are suffering from a terminal and irreversible illness, with a life expectancy of no more than six months.

Applicants must be:

* In full mental capacity, confirmed by a psychiatrist.

* Suffering from a medically certified terminal illness (not conditions related to age, mental health, or disability alone).

* Fully aware of all medical and palliative care options available to them.

* Acting out of their own free will, without any external pressure.

There are strict safeguards in place!

* Coercion is criminalised — anyone who pressures someone to opt for euthanasia would face jail time.

* The application must go through multiple layers of independent medical certification, including mental health assessments.

* A Regulatory Board, chaired by a former judge, must approve every case.

* There is a mandatory reflection period, and the patient may withdraw their request at any time, even verbally, up to the final moment.

* The final act must be carried out by the patient themselves. In cases of physical incapacity, they may legally delegate this to a trusted individual through a written health proxy.

Doctors may choose not to participate on conscientious grounds, and the process, if approved, would take place either in a designated public hospital room or in the patient’s home, depending on their wishes.

How to Participate:

The consultation is open until July 2, 2025, and the government is encouraging all citizens to share their opinions through the official website:

📢www.facts.gov.mt