B.C. woman behind challenge of Canada’s ban on assisted suicide dies

VANCOUVER – A B.C. woman who became the public face of a court challenge of Canada’s ban on assisted suicide has died, a group representing her says.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says 64-year-old Gloria Taylor of Westbank, who suffered from ALS, died Thursday of a severe infection caused by a perforated colon.

Taylor was the lead plaintiff in a right-to-die suit that resulted in a B.C. Supreme Court judgment in June that said a person’s right to die with dignity is protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The court gave the federal government a year to change the law against assisted suicide and granted Taylor an exemption, allowing her the right to seek a physician-assisted death.

Ottawa is appealing the ruling and also asked B.C.’s highest court to overturn Taylor’s exemption, but that request was denied.