Canada investigates alleged non-consensual euthanasia of 83-year-old woman

Authorities in Canada have launched a criminal investigation following the death of 83-year-old Brigitte Stegemann via Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). Her family alleges that the procedure was carried out without her valid consent and despite her explicit religious and personal objections to euthanasia.

Brigitte Kranendonk, Stegemann’s granddaughter, claims the patient was not mentally capable of making such a decision due to cognitive impairment caused by her illness. The family reports that Stegemann had previously rejected the MAID program and had even physically resisted medical interventions. They further allege that a medical assessment was conducted while the family was away on vacation and that staff proceeded with the lethal injection even when Stegemann appeared unresponsive during consent attempts.

Since 2021, Canadian law has not required a terminal diagnosis for MAID, a policy that has expanded access to the procedure for individuals with various medical conditions. The investigation into the specific circumstances of Stegemann’s death is being conducted by provincial and local authorities.