Brigitte Kranendonk alleges that her 83-year-old grandmother, Brigitte Stegemann, underwent medically assisted dying in Ontario despite appearing confused and distressed about the procedure. She says Stegemann cried after being told she would die, failed a cognitive assessment, and had previously objected to what she called the “death shot”. The family is seeking investigations into whether Stegemann gave valid consent and whether the procedure was lawful.

Kranendonk claims the procedure at The Pearl care home on 10 July was poorly handled, including repeated failed attempts to insert an intravenous line that left Stegemann covered in blood. She also alleges that the nurse was not wearing gloves and that the care home had never previously conducted MAiD. The practitioners and care home have not commented publicly but are understood to maintain that Stegemann had legally consented; authorities including Ontario’s Chief Coroner, the Patient Ombudsman and police have been contacted.