The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) submitted its contribution to the Public Consultation on Assisted Voluntary Euthanasia:
Sociological research has long shown that end-of-life decisions are not made in a social vacuum, but are shaped by family relationships, religious beliefs, access to care, and trust in institutions. In this light, the MSA recommends incorporating a sociological lens to better understand how such policies impact not only individuals and families but also institutions, professional practices, and broader cultural values surrounding life, care, and death. This perspective also enables the examination of how inequalities in these areas may influence people’s choices and experiences, and raises important questions about how to ensure that decisions of this nature are truly voluntary and informed.
To this end, we urge that a structured Social Impact Assessment (SIA) be integrated into this policy process. An SIA can help identify how different social groups may be affected, ensure that safeguards are responsive to real-life contexts, and offer ongoing insight into how such legislation is experienced across society. Public debate must remain grounded in evidence, and informed by an understanding that moral decisions are shaped by social and cultural
conditions.
According to the International Association for Impact Assessment, SIA refers to “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”. An SIA is an interdisciplinary process and follows established social-scientific methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders, including sociologists, ethicists,
healthcare professionals, and affected communities, and which report back to ensure effective policy processes.
