https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26427 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:48:14 GMT 2026-06-30T18:48:14Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26542 Title: Maternal and neonatal health in times of disaster Abstract: Disasters can happen anywhere when nobody is expecting them. They cause terrible situations to communities and nations, harming individuals, health care systems and the economy. Millions of women and their children suffer from long term effects or even death due to consequences of disasters or the disaster itself. This dissertation aims to understand the effects that disasters cause on the health care systems and the effects that mothers and their newborn children encounter during such times of crises. In view of the current situation in Europe and around the world, the preparation of health care systems for such catastrophic events is highlighted. The importance of being prepared is discussed since midwives and other healthcare professional play a crucial role in humanitarian crises. Common ethical dilemmas in disaster crises are also studied. This dissertation was based on a literature search online databases, official documents and published literature. Description: M.A.BIOETHICS Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26542 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26527 Title: Embryo adoption : legal, religious and ethical issues Abstract: Towards the end of the twentieth century, new developments in medical science and technology such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) made it possible for infertile couples to have their own biological children. Very often, during IVF procedures supernumerary embryos are created and cryopreserved to considerably increase the couple's chance of a pregnancy. Globally, hundreds and thousands of viable healthy embryos end up in frozen animation. Several ethical, legal and religious concerns revolve around what to do with these surplus embryos. Over the years, various alternatives have been proposed - some questionable. Amongst disposal choices, embryo adoption seems to be the only viable option that safeguards the life of cryopreserved embryos. This thesis seeks to identify the key legal, religious, psychological and ethical issues raised by the practice of embryo adoption. The main legal controversy surrounding embryo adoption is whether the practice should be considered as gamete/tissue donation or embryo adoption. Other legal issues to be discussed are embryo adoption legislation, donor and recipients contractual rights and obligations towards the resulting child and the child's right to know its genetic origin. Couples who are unable to have their own biological children are not only guided or limited by state laws and regulations; they often seek religious guidance prior to deciding on embryo adoption as part of their infertility treatment. Very often infertile couples are tormented between their moral values and their strong wish to have a child. Religious beliefs and practices play an important role in the couple's decision making process. The three monotheistic religions - the Jewish, the Catholic, and Muslim faith traditions – are analysed in light of embryo adoption. Other relevant issues of embryo adoption are also investigated. These include: evaluation, screening and recruitment of donors and recipients; the psychological effect embryo adoption hason the donating/recipient couple and offspring; consent and counselling of donors and recipients and reimbursement of donors‟ expenses. The new ethical challenges posed by the commercial creation of embryos are also explored. The thesis concludes on the future safeguards and recommendations to protect the lives of cryopreserved embryos. Proposed safeguards and recommendation include oocyte vitrification, restructuring and standardization of current laws and increasing public and professional awareness on embryo adoption/donation. Description: M.A.BIOETHICS Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26527 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26485 Title: An ethical appraisal of the Embryo Protection Act, 2012 Abstract: This work discusses the ethical implications of framing bioethical concerns within the Embryo Protection Act, 2012. It starts from the observation that moral and legal approaches to questions of bioethical relevance were dominant when addressing bioethical concerns in Malta. The law as presently enacted in Malta is the result of over two decades of contentious debate, and addresses a variety of bioethically relevant issues. The law is intrinsically designed to safeguard the interests of the unborn child above everything else. It is in the context of this strong connection between the law as presently enacted, and bioethics that this work seeks to analyse what happens when issues of bioethical relevance are discussed within such a framework, how this affects the way bioethical issues are conceptualised, conceived of and dealt with, and, ultimately, how well-suited or successful the law is in its attempt to resolve current bioethical questions. Following the methodological approach of thematic analysis, this dissertation bases its analysis upon manifestations that serve as framework for bioethical debate that also somewhat defines how bioethically relevant issues are approached, thought of and dealt with. It somewhat determines what methods are used to resolve such issues and that it somewhat limits the range of conceivable and viable solutions to these issue. This dissertation does not aim to abrogate legal approaches to bioethics, and it does not understand the implications discussed in this dissertation to be necessarily good or bad. To the contrary, it will be shown that the law as presently enacted is suitable and contributes effectively to the development of the field in several important ways. Yet, this dissertation also shows that it is worthwhile to closely examine implications that follow from specific legal approaches to bioethical issues - not least because these implications are not always easily perceived. Description: M.A.BIOETHICS Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26485 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26483 Title: The strengths and weaknesses of the 'principle of double effect' in the abortion debate Abstract: The Principle of Double Effect (PDE) has served its purpose in moral theology for centuries. It is a method of moral reasoning to address conflict situations such as selfdefence, the just war theory, and bioethical issues at the beginning and end of life. Today new issues in bioethics are emerging which offer new challenges to the Principle especially at the beginning of life. The Principle acknowledges that some actions can have a double effect: one good and the other bad. The bad effect is tolerated in this Principle as unintended and foreseen. The issue will complicate itself when it comes to abortion especially in situations where the lives of the mother and of the unborn child are at risk. It is a situation that in the near future our country will be discussing fervently. Digging deeper into the moral reasoning of the Principle of Double Effect, we will be able to explore new possibilities to apply the Principle creatively in today’s conflict issues where the life of both the mother and the child are at stake. Exploring the philosophical underpinnings of the Principle, by using literature review as a method, enables us to address the abortion debate in a more convincing way. Description: M.A.BIOETHICS Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26483 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z