Graduates urged to fight dishonesty in professions

A university lecturer yesterday urged new graduates to fight against the dishonesty visible in various professions.

“Those who shout loudest are those who are heard and idolised,” said Professor Kevin Cassar from the Department of Surgery, in his speech during a graduation ceremony at the Jesuit Church in Valletta.

“We see the same people being interviewed and photographed, their slightest comment reported and reproduced – their claim to fame being a public act of disloyalty to their group or political party, a public betrayal of their colleagues or the principles they previously held.”

Greed, he said, was distorting clinical judgement during research and journalists distorted the truth for political advantage or personal success.

“Racism and hatred are continuously spewed out and some extreme views appear to have become mainstream. Some argue that we should not intervene to save the lives of would be immigrants at sea for narrow national interests, professional unions object to the treatment of severely injured patients from neighbouring war zones in our country, others reason that we should still deal with despotic dictators who flagrantly disrespect human rights and oppress their own people as long as we will benefit financially.”

Prof. Cassar said that, in today’s world, society compensated dishonesty, disloyalty, bad behaviour and vulgarity. Malta desperately needed a new breed of professionals who are not only competent in their field but recognise the rewards of honesty and integrity.

He urged the university to put more effort into instilling such values into students and to ensure that lecturers act as role models and are selected carefully.

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