https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/332 Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:38:33 GMT 2026-10-23T12:38:33Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150386 Title: Navigating ethical challenges faced by professionals within the pharmaceutical industry in Malta Abstract: Objective The pharmaceutical industry operates at the intersection of medical innovation and commercial profit, creating a dual mission that poses significant ethical challenges. Apart from identifying the practices within the local pharmaceutical sector that cause most concern, this dissertation investigates the ethical orientation, recognition of ethical breaches, and levels of moral distress among pharmaceutical professionals in Malta and which factors bear most impact on the traits under investigation. Method Utilizing a quantitative research design, an anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to members of the Association of Medical Representatives (AMR), the central organization for medical representatives in Malta. The research employed the Ethics Position Questionnaire-5 (EPQ-5) to assess ethical orientation, vignette-based scenarios to measure recognition and tolerance of misconduct, and a scale composed of industry-specific items to evaluate moral distress. Key Findings Based on a response rate of 42.1%, findings indicate that marketing practices (70.3%) are perceived as the primary source of ethical concern. The local workforce is predominantly principled, with 39.1% classifying as Absolutists and 29.7% as Situationists, reflecting a collective priority on patient safety and harm avoidance. Ethics training appears to contribute significantly to ethical recognition, significantly improving a professional’s ability to identify misconduct such as misleading claims or the withholding of safety information. Notably, Maltese nationality was the strongest predictor of high moral distress, while pharmacists reported significantly higher distress than non-pharmacists, particularly regarding safety information and unethical incentives. Furthermore, a clear shift in ideology was observed with tenure, moving from Subjectivism at entry-level to Absolutism among more experienced professionals. Conclusion The study concludes that while the Maltese pharmaceutical workforce is fundamentally principled, individuals face significant distress when commercial pressures conflict with professional integrity. Description: M.A. Bus. Ethics(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150386 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150385 Title: Guardianships and older adults from the perspective of dignity Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, classified under major neurocognitive disorder. According to Alzheimer Europe’s 2025 report, an estimated 9,476 people in Malta are living with dementia, and this number is expected to double by 2050. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience severe cognitive decline, affecting their ability to carry out daily tasks and make important healthcare decisions. In such cases, guardianship may be introduced to support decision-making. Guardianship refers to the legal relationship between a guardian and a person unable to manage their own affairs due to mental or physical incapacity. Despite its protective role, guardianship may threaten the dignity and autonomy of older adults when applied in a paternalistic manner within Maltese healthcare settings. This creates an ethical dilemma: balancing the protection of vulnerable individuals with respect for their autonomy and dignity. This dissertation critically examines Maltese guardianship law and explores how it may either support or undermine the dignity and autonomy of older adults under guardianship. The study addresses two main questions: Do guardianships in Malta adequately protect the dignity and autonomy of older adults in practice? If not, how can guardianship be reformed to better safeguard both? The study adopts a bibliographic approach using secondary sources, including peer reviewed articles, books, policy documents, medical society publications, and legal texts. Some anecdotal experiences observed by the researcher are also included. The dissertation is divided into three chapters: the first examines Maltese guardianship law and its ethical implications; the second explores the philosophical concepts of dignity and autonomy; and the third proposes recommendations for reform. Ultimately, this research aims to promote ethical discussion surrounding guardianship and raise awareness of the challenges it presents, while offering recommendations to better protect the human rights, dignity, and autonomy of older adults in healthcare decision-making. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150385 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150311 Title: A theology of heighbourhood and synodality : reimagining ecclesial and theological practice today Authors: Zammit, Mark Joseph Abstract: Synodality, understood both as a theological category and an ecclesial practice, reshapes the Church’s self-understanding as a pilgrim community that walks together in communal discernment of the Spirit’s action. Within this horizon, the theology of neighbourhood offers a fruitful hermeneutical key for rethinking ecclesiology in terms of proximity, hospitality, and mutual responsibility. This article explores the intrinsic relationship between synodality and neighbourhood as constitutive tasks of contemporary theology, proposing a way of doing theology that emerges from encounter, attentive listening, and shared experience.; The study offers a theological reading of synodality in dialogue with the theology of neighbourhood developed by the Argentine theologian Lucio Gera, situating its origins within the theology of the people and an incarnational vision of the Church. By approaching neighbourhood as a theological, social, and pastoral category, the article argues that the Church is called to be a “neighbour” to humanity, fostering relationships marked by encounter, recognition, and concrete responsibility for others. It first presents the core elements of Gera’s theology of neighbourhood and then examines its influence on Pope Francis’s synodal vision of the Church. The final section turns to the pontificate of Leo XIV, highlighting key pastoral priorities that continue and deepen this trajectory, pointing toward a Church that is both genuinely synodal and authentically rooted in a lived theology of neighbourhood. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150311 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150310 Title: Editorial note [Melita Theologica, 76(1)] Authors: Zammit, Mark Joseph Abstract: The question of theology’s relevance has become unavoidable in contemporary culture. In a world marked by technological acceleration, political fragmentation, ecological anxiety, and growing mistrust toward institutions, theology is often perceived as either a remnant of the past or a specialised discourse detached from lived reality. Yet precisely within this climate of uncertainty, theology may rediscover its deepest vocation. The task of theology today is not to retreat into defensive self-preservation, nor merely to repeat inherited formulas, but to engage courageously with the questions, wounds, and aspirations of humanity while remaining rooted in the mystery of God revealed in Christ. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150310 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z