Canadian Grandmother Euthanized Against Her Will While Praying and Crying ‘I Don’t Want the Death Shot!’
by Frank Bergman
The devastated family of an 83-year-old Ontario woman has revealed that the Canadian government euthanized the Christian grandmother against her will while she prayed, cried for help, and begged doctors to spare her life.
Brigitte Stegemann’s family says she was euthanized despite allegedly breaking down in tears and declaring: “I don’t want the death shot!”
Stegemann was killed with a lethal injection under Canada’s taxpayer-funded Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program on July 10 at The Pearl care home in Cannifton, Ontario.
Her granddaughter and longtime caregiver, Brigitte Kranendonk, has revealed that Stegemann was confused, failed a cognitive assessment, and never clearly consented to being killed on the morning of the procedure.
In fact, Kranendonk says her grandmother begged doctors to let her live.
Belleville Police has now confirmed that the case remains under investigation.
“This incident is currently open and under investigation with our Criminal Investigations Division,” a police spokesman said.
Grandmother Cried: ‘I’ve Made a Mistake’
Stegemann had been diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in February.
However, doctors were reportedly uncertain whether she had six months or as long as two years to live.
Kranendonk said she had previously discussed assisted dying with her grandmother and received a clear response.
“No, I don’t want that,” Stegemann said, according to Kranendonk.
Her granddaughter said Stegemann’s Christian faith and fear of displeasing God were major reasons she opposed euthanasia.
But while Kranendonk was away on a 10-day road trip, the care home informed her that Stegemann would undergo a MAiD assessment.
Kranendonk said she later attended a cognitive assessment in which her grandmother gave incorrect answers about her own family.
Stegemann said she had no siblings despite having 13 and incorrectly said none were still alive, according to Kranendonk.