Do most doctors in Malta really support abortion? Here are the facts.

Fact Checks·By Cassy Cooke

A survey claims that the majority of doctors in Malta support legal abortion. But is that really the case?

Key Takeaways:

Malta is one of the last pro-life countries in the world, with laws in place protecting preborn children from abortion.
Maltese politicians have faced immense international pressure to legalize abortion.
A new survey claims 77% of doctors in Malta support abortion at "all stages" of pregnancy to save the mother's life, or if the preborn child has a fatal anomaly. However, only 8% of registered doctors responded to the survey.

The Details:

The Times of Malta reported that "most doctors" support abortion at any point in pregnancy, so long as the mother's life is at risk or there is a fatal fetal anomaly detected. Citing a survey from the University of Malta, it was claimed that "77 per cent believe abortion should be allowed at 'all stages' of pregnancy if the woman’s life is at risk or if the foetus cannot survive."

Additionally, the survey claimed that 45% of doctors believe abortion should be allowed at any stage to preserve physical health, with 26% supporting abortion for reasons of mental health.

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Yet as the Times of Malta admitted, there are over 2,100 registered doctors in Malta... and just 173 responded to the survey, or roughly 8%. Furthermore, 62% of the doctors who responded identify as Catholic, while only 31% said religion is important.

Why It Matters:

Malta has been under constant international pressure to abandon its pro-life ideals, and for years, the small country has managed to resist.

One notable case caused international uproar after an American woman claimed she needed a “medically necessary” abortion and was denied one while vacationing in Malta. Her doctors responded by pointing out that this was not true — but as is common with pro-abortion media lies, the public relations damage was already (intentionally) done.

After being diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), the woman insisted on being discharged so she could get an abortion, though Professor Yves Muscat Baron, an OB/GYN who chairs the Maternity and Gynecology Department at Mater Dei Hospital, testified that an abortion was not necessary.

The woman in question, Andrea Prudente, was already being monitored, and had received antibiotics in line with the standard of care. Muscat Baron said that not only was there not a request for an abortion at the time, Prudente's life was never in danger.

“We never took that decision,” he said. “At no point was there a choice. At no point was the patient in danger of dying.”

Alberto Vella, another doctor who consulted on Prudente’s case, testified that if Prudente's life had been at risk, they would have delivered the baby prematurely, even if the baby was too young to survive outside the womb.

“When the mother is in danger, the foetus is removed immediately,” he said, but explained that Prudente was never in danger of dying. “It was completely minimized. She was in hospital, so if any risks arose, they would be dealt with."

Despite the facts, the international outcry caused Maltese politicians to begin considering so-called “medically necessary” abortions.

In June of 2023, the criminal code was amended to allow for abortions in “exceptional cases,” where the woman’s life is at risk, but not if the baby is viable. In that situation, doctors could perform a premature delivery (but not an induced abortion procedure) and then begin medical treatment on the woman.

Since June 2023, five preborn children have been aborted in Malta.

The Bottom Line:

Pro-life countries regularly are pressured to abandon their principles and beliefs by foreign abortion activists. Malta has so far been able avoid caving to this pressure, though the pressure shows no signs of abating.

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