Canada’s Assisted-Death System Faces Backlash as Death Toll Surpasses 100,000

Public opposition to Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying program is mounting following the disputed death of an elderly Ontario woman and reports that the nationwide system has now ended more than 100,000 lives.

Brigitte Stegemann, an 83-year-old assisted-living resident in Belleville, died through MAiD in July after being diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer. She also reportedly had cognitive impairment and significant hearing loss.

Stegemann’s family maintains that she did not provide the clear, final consent required before lethal drugs were administered. Relatives reportedly objected during the procedure, arguing that her Christian beliefs would have prevented her from knowingly choosing assisted death. The attending physician nevertheless determined that she met the legal requirements.

The circumstances have renewed questions about whether Canada’s safeguards adequately protect elderly, disabled, and seriously ill people.

MAiD became legal in 2016, initially under rules focused on adults approaching the natural end of life. Nearly 4,000 deaths were recorded the following year, with annual totals subsequently rising. More than 16,000 Canadians reportedly died through MAiD in 2024, while the cumulative number passed 100,000 in April.

Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, says the increase followed the removal of key restrictions in 2021. Applicants no longer necessarily need to have a terminal condition, and some cases do not require a waiting period.

Schadenberg also warned that hospital MAiD teams may actively introduce assisted death to vulnerable patients, creating pressure for people already struggling with illness, isolation, or fear.

“When you allow killing, it’s very hard to say you can kill this person, but not that person,” he said, calling for a “massive reversal” of Canadian policy.

The controversy is expected to deepen as lawmakers consider the program’s next expansion. Unless Parliament intervenes, individuals whose sole underlying condition is mental illness could become eligible in March 2027. Proposals involving minors have also entered the broader national discussion.

For Christians and other defenders of life, Stegemann’s case underscores a foundational moral concern: A compassionate society should protect those who are suffering, not make death an accepted answer to their vulnerability.

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