Grandmother's Assisted Death Sparks Investigation in Canada

An 83-year-old Christian grandmother died under Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) system under circumstances her granddaughter alleges were against her will, prompting an investigation by authorities. Brigitte Stegemann, known as 'GG' or 'Oma' to her family, died on July 10 at The Pearl care home in Cannifton, Ontario.

Brigitte Kranendonk, Stegemann's granddaughter and medical power of attorney, is appealing to the Chief Coroner's Office, the Patient Ombudsman, and Belleville Police, seeking to determine the legality of the procedure. Kranendonk claims MAiD practitioners took advantage of her grandmother's vulnerability and that the procedure was carried out without express consent.

Kranendonk detailed that two days before the scheduled procedure, her grandmother became visibly distressed and cried for 45 minutes when confronted with the reality of the assisted dying process, stating, "I've made a mistake." During a cognitive test designed to assess her capacity to consent, Stegemann reportedly answered every question incorrectly, including believing her two living siblings were deceased.

Despite these apparent cognitive difficulties, Stegemann was deemed fit for MAiD. Kranendonk alleges that the MAiD practitioners maintained Stegemann had legally consented, though she disputes this, stating her grandmother had previously expressed a clear opposition to assisted dying, citing her religious beliefs.

Further compounding Kranendonk's distress are the circumstances surrounding the procedure itself. She described a botched first attempt to insert an IV line, which resulted in a significant amount of blood covering Stegemann's arm, nightie, and the surrounding bedding. Kranendonk also noted that the nurse administering the IV was allegedly not wearing gloves.

Kranendonk, who had been her grandmother's caregiver for 12 years, recounted instances where Stegemann expressed strong opposition to medical interventions related to dying. In February, after being diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer, Stegemann had to be convinced to accept a medical port, reportedly screaming, "I don't want the death shot!"

Kranendonk stated that her grandmother's health had deteriorated, leading to her move to The Pearl care home, but she questioned the rapidity of the decline that led to the MAiD assessment. She noted that her grandmother was still eating, walking, and conversational shortly before the assessment was initiated.

During the MAiD assessments, Kranendonk expressed concerns about the language used by medical professionals. She reported that MAiD was described in vague terms, such as "giving medicine" and "making sure you won't have any more pain," without explicitly mentioning death or dying. She felt her grandmother, who was 83, hard of hearing, and not a native English speaker, did not fully comprehend the explanations.

Kranendonk also raised questions about the cognitive assessment, claiming the questions were not verifiable and that her grandmother provided incorrect answers about her siblings. Despite these concerns, the doctor proceeded with the assessment and deemed Stegemann eligible for MAiD.

The process leading up to the procedure was described by Kranendonk as rushed and lacking transparency. She claims that the care home attempted to move the procedure up by a day, and that paperwork was allegedly completed after her grandmother's death. Kranendonk stated she has not seen the paperwork she believes her grandmother would have signed agreeing to the procedure.

On the day of the procedure, Stegemann shared a final ice cream with her family in the garden and engaged in prayers with her pastor. However, Kranendonk reported that the MAiD nurse asked the family to return indoors prematurely to prepare the IV, and that the procedure began before the doctor arrived and before Stegemann was asked for consent. Kranendonk stated that her grandmother was unresponsive and did not appear to verbally consent to the injection.

Belleville Police have confirmed that the incident is under investigation with their Criminal Investigations Division. As of 2023, Canada had one of the highest rates of euthanasia globally, with MAiD accounting for 4.7 percent of deaths.