Lawsuit being considered in death of Quebec man who sought MAID over bedsores

MONTREAL — The partner of a quadriplegic Quebec man who sought a medically assisted death after developing painful bedsores during a hospital stay in 2024 is considering legal action.

Sylvie Brosseau’s late spouse, Normand Meunier, received MAID in March 2024, two months after an 11-day stay at a hospital in St-Jérôme, Que., north of Montreal.

A coroner’s report published Tuesday said Meunier developed painful bedsores in hospital because he was left without a mattress adapted to his condition and didn’t receive the specialized care he needed.

Brosseau, alongside her lawyer Patrick Martin-Ménard, told a news conference today she is considering suing the health authority that oversees the St-Jérôme hospital, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux des Laurentides.

Also at the news conference was a representative of Mémo-Québec, a non-profit that advocates for people with disabilities.

Ariane Gauthier-Tremblay says her group has a registry of more than 100 people who have experienced situations similar to Meunier’s.

The organization is considering a class-action lawsuit against Quebec’s Health Department on behalf of all individuals — whether or not they have spinal cord injuries — who experienced inadequate care that led to bedsores.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2025.

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