Etienne Grech took a kidney to play with

Etienne Grech, Labour MP, currently discussing organ donation in parliamentary committee

Last Wednesday evening, parliament’s Social Affairs and Health Committees joined forces to discuss the white paper on organ donation.

There was one memorable episode, a real highlight, in a discussion that was otherwise level-headed and at times a little dull.

This was when Etienne Grech (Labour), who is a medical doctor, declared with pride that when he was a medical student he “took” organs – he mentioned a kidney specifically – to study on in his own spare time.

The three other doctors there – Michael Gonzi (Nationalist), Deo Debattista (Labour) and Chris Fearne (Labour, and the PS for health) – went ballistic.

They told Grech that they themselves had never done anything of the sort, that for a medical student to pilfer organs to examine at leisure is completely out of order, while Grech stuck right to his guns and said that there is nothing wrong with it.

Deborah Schembri (Labour) tried hard to change the subject but Grech just kept right on going until everyone at the table ended up laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

What is absurd, of course, is that somebody like Etienne Grech is in parliament.