An 83-year-old grandmother, identified by her family as Brigitte Stegemann, allegedly underwent euthanasia against her expressed religious beliefs and personal wishes, her family claims. Stegemann, known to her family as 'GG,' died on July 10 through Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program.
The MAID program allows doctors and nurse practitioners to assist eligible individuals in ending their lives with consent. Stegemann was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer approximately five months prior to her death. She had been residing in a long-term care facility in Ontario for the preceding two years.
Her granddaughter, Brigitte Kranendonk, held the power of attorney for Stegemann and was the primary contact for her medical and personal care decisions. According to a public family statement, Kranendonk was frequently contacted by facility staff regarding Stegemann's care. The topic of assisted death was introduced about two months before Stegemann's death.
At that initial discussion, Stegemann reportedly stated she did not wish to pursue MAID, explaining that it conflicted with her Christian faith. The family's statement noted that euthanasia is considered a sin within Christianity.
In the weeks leading up to her death, Stegemann was described as extremely weak and largely unresponsive. During a scheduled meeting, she suddenly became coherent, leading her family to question if she had been over-sedated in the preceding days. When Kranendonk informed a nurse that she was her grandmother's advocate, the nurse allegedly became agitated. During this time, Kranendonk told the remaining administrator that she and her family did not support MAID for Stegemann, expressing serious concerns about her grandmother's mental capacity to make such a decision independently.
The following day, Kranendonk attended a meeting with a physician who was assessing Stegemann's capacity for an informed MAID decision. The family described the assessment as a "deeply alarming farce." When asked about her siblings, Stegemann stated she had only one, despite being one of 14 children. The family questioned the physician on how Stegemann was cleared for the procedure, but the assessment continued. The physician reportedly informed the family that Stegemann had been deemed capable of making her own decisions.
Despite the family's continued disagreement, Kranendonk asked her grandmother if she was sure about proceeding with the end-of-life decision. Stegemann reportedly responded with distress, stating, "I'm going to die Friday? They're going to kill me Friday?" and wept, repeatedly saying she had made a mistake.
The family spent Stegemann's final moments with her, taking her outside for fresh air and ice cream before she was returned to her room. The family claims they were asked by the care home administrator to assist with handing over medical supplies, an experience they found insensitive and upsetting. The family reported witnessing a significant amount of blood covering Stegemann, the bedding, and the surrounding area shortly before she took her final breath with her hands clasped in prayer.
The Daily Mail has contacted the care home for comment.