Why 48-year-old comedian is suing country so she can die by medically assisted suicide
Earlier this week, Canadian comedian Claire Brosseau announced her plan to sue her home country after lawmakers refused her medically assisted suicide request.
The 48-year-old has battled issues surrounding her mental health since her childhood years. By Brosseau's own account, despite her 'embarrassment of riches' - like the ability to travel the world, a rewarding, well-paid job, and loved ones around her - the TV star and comedian has had enough.
Having struggled with manic depression, anxiety disorder, substance abuse disorder, and chronic suicidal ideation on a daily basis for decades - and attempted a whole host of unsuccessful treatments - she previously attempted to take her own life.
In fact, Brosseau admits to having lost count of how many suicide attempts she has undertaken over the years, as well as the techniques she's tried.
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Only recently, however, did it occur to the Toronto-born star that she could fight to have her suicide medically assisted by healthcare professionals in her homeland - an increasingly touchy topic in Canada.
Why does she want medically assisted suicide?
For years now, campaigners have argued for the legal right for citizens battling terminal conditions to end their lives on their terms.
Believing she falls into this category, Brosseau is convinced that medically assisted dying would give her the chance to die in a more dignified, compassionate manner.
In a self-written Substack piece, she recently claimed: "I’m not asking my readers to save me. No one can save me. People get sick and die. That’s life. I just want to know what you would do if you were me."
She applied for euthanasia under Canada's medical assisted aid in dying (MAID) program in 2021, but was told patients with chronic mental illnesses are not eligible, given that the programme was only meant for those suffering a 'grievous and irremediable medical condition'.
Legal issues surrounding medically assisted suicide
Having been heavily opposed recently once again, Brosseau has become seriously embroiled her very own spat with psychiatrists.
Amongst them is Dr Mark Fefergrad who, despite sympathetic, is adamant that she's making the wrong decision.
"I believe she can get well," he said to The New York Times of Brosseau. "I don’t think MAID is the best or only choice for her."
Other opponents of MAID in general - especially from disability advocate groups - believe to widen the goal posts to eligibility could result in unintentional pressure piled onto people to choose death, rather than endure inadequate social or medical support.
With regards to mental illness in general, despite lawmakers initially planning to allow MAID in these cases, the government delayed the change amid warnings from doctors and legal experts about consent, diagnosis, and safeguards.
Someone who believes Brosseau is well within her right to legally end her life is Dr Gail Robinson, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, who has worked closely with the comedian for some time.
"I would love her to change her mind," Robinson told the outlet. "I would hope that she would not have to do this. But I will support her."
Why is she suing Canada?
With her wishes having proven severely divisive already, this week, Brosseau announced plans to seek legal action against her entire home-country.
As such, she has teamed up with advocacy organisation Dying With Dignity Canada to sue the government, in a bid to see individuals suffering from mental illnesses allowed into in the program.
Of her efforts, the actress recently wrote: "There is nothing complicated about my situation, nothing confusing, nothing immoral or unethical. I am a complainant in a lawsuit taking on the government to fight for equal rights, and even that won’t be enough to save me.
"Do you think I’ll be able to? Could you, do you think, if you read my story?"
What next for Claire?
In terms of what the future looks like for Brosseau, if the legal change that she's fighting for doesn't come into affect until 2027, she will likely be left in limbo for several years.
If courts do rule in her favour, however, MAID eligibility could be amended much sooner, potentially setting a major precedent on how assisted dying law applies to psychiatric suffering.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Topics: Life, Real Life, True Life, Mental Health, Health, Canada, US News
Rhianna Benson