Family alleges Ontario Christian grandmother lacked capacity and final consent for Medical Assistance in Dying; Belleville police investigating

Brigitte “GG” Stegemann, an 83-year-old Christian grandmother with stage 4 stomach cancer, received Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) on July 10, 2026, at The Pearl, a long-term care facility in Cannifton, Ontario, according to her family and subsequent reporting.

Her granddaughter, Brigitte Kranendonk — who says she had been Stegemann’s caregiver for about 12 years and held power of attorney for personal care — alleges that Stegemann had previously declined Medical Assistance in Dying because it conflicted with her Christian faith. The family further alleges that care-home staff initiated private discussions of the procedure and helped complete and witness application paperwork while Kranendonk was away on a roughly 10-day trip; that Stegemann showed significant cognitive disorientation during a clinician assessment, including incorrect answers about her own siblings; and that on the morning of July 10 she remained silent, hands clasped, and did not give the final verbal express confirmation the family says they had been told would be required.

Kranendonk has raised the case with Belleville Police, Ontario’s Chief Coroner — requesting a MAID Death Review Team review — the Patient Ombudsman, and the Ministry of Long-Term Care. Reporting in September 2026 said a Belleville Police spokesman confirmed the matter is open and under investigation by the force’s Criminal Investigations Division, without further detail. A family complaint shared publicly, as Rebel News reported, identifies Dr. Kate Koester as the attending clinician. Rebel News said the name was misspelled in the complaint materials.

None of the family’s allegations about capacity or consent has been proven in a published finding. The Pearl and the practitioners have not commented publicly. Reporting says they are understood to maintain that Stegemann legally consented. The family says repeated requests for medical records have been refused.