The granddaughter of an 83-year-old Canadian woman who died through the country's assisted-death program in July has spoken out about the circumstances surrounding her grandmother's death. Brigitte Kranendonk, who cared for her grandmother Brigitte Stegemann, claims that the family was not informed that a second Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) assessment had been scheduled, despite Stegemann having previously declined the procedure.
According to Kranendonk, the family cut short a vacation after learning of the second assessment and upon their return, Stegemann had no knowledge of what was happening. Stegemann had previously expressed her desire not to undergo MAiD, saying "I don't want the death shot." Kranendonk stated that her grandmother had been misinformed about the procedure and that she had only accepted MAiD after Kranendonk explained it to her while on vacation.
Stegemann's death occurred on July 10, and Kranendonk has raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the procedure. She claims that the nurse administering the IV was not wearing gloves and that Stegemann did not verbally acknowledge the doctor's final question before the procedure began. Kranendonk is seeking investigations by the coroner's office, an ombudsman, and the long-term care action line.
The family is also questioning the role of the care home, The Pearl, where Stegemann lived. Kranendonk claims that the home had taken it upon themselves to fill out the paperwork for MAiD and that she is unsure if Stegemann even knew what she was signing. The care home, which has 57 licensed beds and 86 people on the waiting list, has not commented on the matter.
Kranendonk has stated that she is seeking to give families more time and to prevent similar circumstances from arising in the future.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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