Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
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| Normand Meunier |
Last week, the inquest examined how Normand Meunier acquired the horrific bedsore that resulted in Meunier dying by euthanasia.
Article: Coroner's inquest into Québec euthanasia death of man with a bed sore (Link).On May 13, Leora Schertzer reported for the Montreal Gazette that:
Geneviève Paradis, a nurse who cared for Normand Meunier during his time in the ICU, testified Monday that she did not check Meunier’s bedsores, noting that the hospital was short staffed. Another nurse, Rachel Lanthier, testified she thought one bedsore was significant, but did not see any records of it in Meunier’s hospital file to make a comparison and track the wound’s growth.Schertzer reported that:
Meunier’s decision to seek MAID was a last resort for a patient who had been systemically neglected by Quebec’s health-care system, Patrick Martin-Ménard, the lawyer representing Meunier’s family, explained in an interview.Schertzer reported about the extent of Meunier's bed sores.
“The crumbling health-care system allowed the pressure wounds to reach a point at which there was no possible recovery. And that in itself, I find it to be extremely shocking,” Martin-Ménard said.
Meunier, 66, was brought to the ER for a respiratory issue in January 2024 and was left on a stretcher for 96 hours. When he was admitted to the hospital, he had three bedsores that were at risk of worsening without proper care. By the time he chose to end his life two months later with MAID, the wounds spanned nearly the entire width of his buttocks, exposing his internal organs.The Canadian Press reported on May 15 that Sylvie Brosseau, Meunier's wife, advocated for his care but was ignored:
Brosseau says Meunier loved the outdoors and had many dreams and plans despite being quadriplegic.
All that changed after he was left on a stretcher at the St-Jérôme hospital for 96 hours and developed a severe pressure sore that never healed.
Brosseau says she repeatedly asked for Meunier to be given a special therapeutic mattress that prevents sores, but she says she felt ignored by hospital staff.Meunier's lawyer, Patrick Martin-Ménard, said:
Meunier requested medical assistance in dying two months after developing the sore and died March 29, 2024.
although it’s tragic Meunier had to turn to MAID because of Quebec’s crumbling health-care system, the option at least let him die with dignity.Martin-Ménard is missing the reality that euthanasia (MAiD) is used to cover up the crumbling health-care system. The death of Normand Meunier is one of many tragic euthanasia deaths.
It's not that - "at least he could "die with dignity" but rather that, he was driven to die by euthanasia.
Euthanasia adds to the tragedy, it is not some sort of consolation.
Euthanasia adds to the tragedy, it is not some sort of consolation.
2 comments:
God forgive us that in a nation as great as Canada that a man who was one of our citizens was forced to take his own life because of sheer neglect and the saddest thing of all that we would call suicide dying with dignity .We can do better let us call suicide what it is .It is not dying with dignity and no one would want that end for our love ones.I apologize to this man’s family for your sorrow and your loss come on Canadian government this is not advancement this is not health care it is the lack of it.We can do better and we must do better no one should have to lay on a stretcher for 96 hours and we should not excuse ourselves .Let’s be a nation of progress this is not acceptable.Every citizen in our nation is valuable let’s treat each other that way let’s be leaders in advancement let’s stop calling dark age practices as advancement and calling suicide by a big name and pretending it is health care .We failed this man and his family .There is a God and He loves each of us let us love each other and actually treat each other with dignity .Someone who already has heath challenges should not have to take their life. let’s offer life as a solution death is not a solution .Canada we can do better We must do better remember we are each loved by our Heavenly Father let us love one another blessings Marlyen
You say it very well, Ms. M. We need expertise and compassion, the former not being excused by the latter. And we need hope.
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