Christian Grandmother, 83, ‘Euthanised Against Her Will’ Under Canada’s Assisted Dying System

29.09.2026

An 83-year-old Christian grandmother was euthanised under Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) programme, with her family now alleging that she did not properly understand or consent to the procedure that ended her life.

Pic: Brigitte Stegemann, Credit: GB News

According to GB News, Brigitte Stegemann, affectionately known as “GG” or “Oma”, died through MAiD in Ontario on July 10. Her family is seeking answers over the circumstances surrounding her death.

Her granddaughter and primary caregiver, Brigitte Kranendonk, said Stegemann had previously rejected assisted dying after being diagnosed with stage-four stomach cancer in February, reportedly saying: “No, I don’t want that.”

However, while Kranendonk was away on a 10-day trip, the care home contacted her about arranging a MAiD assessment. She says she subsequently discovered that her grandmother had already undergone an earlier consultation concerning MAiD.

Kranendonk was present for part of a later assessment and claims her grandmother gave inaccurate information about her family, including saying she had no siblings despite having 13.

She also alleges MAiD was explained without explicitly using the words “death” or “dying”. Stegemann was severely hearing-impaired and German was her first language.

Most concerningly, Kranendonk says that two days before the procedure she asked her grandmother whether she understood she was going to die. According to the family, Stegemann became distressed, cried and said she had “made a mistake”.

Despite this, the MAiD procedure went ahead on July 10.

Her family is now questioning whether Stegemann was capable of providing informed consent and whether adequate safeguards were followed.