Granddaughter Alleges 83-Year-Old Grandmother Was Euthanised Against Her Will in Ontario

granddaughter has alleged that her 83-year-old Christian grandmother was euthanised against her wishes at a care home in Ontario, over whether she understood and consented to Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAiD.

Brigitte Kranendonk said her grandmother, , underwent MAiD at The Pearl care home in Cannifton on 10 July. Kranendonk, who said she had been Stegemann's caregiver for 12 years, has appealed to the Ontario Chief Coroner's Office, Patient Ombudsman and Belleville Police.

Euthanasia in Canada and Questions Over Consent

Kranendonk alleges Stegemann did not understand that she was going to die and had previously told her she did not want MAiD. She said Stegemann's first language was not English and that she was severely hearing-impaired.

Two days before the procedure, Kranendonk said she asked her grandmother whether she knew she was going to die on Friday. Stegemann cried for about 45 minutes and said, 'I've made a mistake.'

Kranendonk also said Stegemann performed poorly during a cognitive assessment, incorrectly stating that she had no siblings and that none were alive, despite having 13 siblings, two of whom were living.

Stegemann had been living at The Pearl for about a year and a half as her physical and cognitive health deteriorated. She was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in February. Kranendonk said her grandmother had previously told her, 'No, I don't want that.'

On 3 July, Kranendonk said she was told the care home planned a MAiD assessment. During a second assessment on 7 July, she said a doctor used terms including 'medicine' and 'feel at peace'. Kranendonk said she told the doctor, 'She doesn't understand what you're saying.'

Four minutes after Kranendonk was asked to leave during the cognitive assessment, she said the doctor announced that Stegemann was 'deemed fit for MAiD'. Kranendonk said the doctor told her Stegemann could still refuse on the day of the procedure.

Euthanasia in Canada and the Family's Allegations

Kranendonk said the care home later told her that the MAiD paperwork had already been completed and signed by her grandmother. She said she had never seen the documents or known who had witnessed them.

On 8 July, Kranendonk said she confronted Stegemann about what MAiD would involve. She said her grandmother broke down and told her, 'I just kept saying there's no mistake, there's no mistake. You don't have to do this.'

On 10 July, family members took Stegemann to the garden for strawberry ice cream before her pastor arrived and prayed with her.

At about 9.30am, Kranendonk said a MAiD nurse asked the family to return indoors, although the doctor was expected at 11am. She alleges the nurse began preparing an intravenous line before the doctor arrived and repeatedly struggled to insert it, puncturing Stegemann's arms and leaving blood on her arm, nightie, pillow and sheets. Kranendonk also alleges the nurse was not wearing gloves.

Kranendonk said the doctor then entered and told Stegemann she was there to give her 'medicine', asking if that was okay. She said her grandmother did not move, open her eyes, nod or speak before the doctor said she would proceed.

Stegemann was pronounced dead within about 10 minutes, according to Kranendonk. She said she did not know whether her grandmother had died shortly before the MAiD, because of the MAiD, or was simply in deep prayer.

The Pearl and the MAiD practitioners had not publicly commented and were understood to maintain that Stegemann legally consented.

Belleville Police said the matter was open and under investigation by its Criminal Investigations Division. Police said they could not provide further information.