Advocates and the wife of a quadriplegic man from Quebec are gearing up to initiate a collective legal action against the province after the 66-year-old requested medical aid to end his life due to a severe bedsore he acquired during a hospital stay last year. Normand Meunier was admitted to Saint-Jérôme Hospital’s emergency room in January 2024 with a respiratory illness but left weeks later with a bedsore, having spent four days on a stretcher without access to a specialized pressure-relieving mattress. On March 4, Meunier sought medical aid in dying and passed away on March 29.
The news of Meunier’s demise gained widespread attention in the province, prompting advocates to strive to prevent similar incidents in the future. This move towards a potential lawsuit materialized following the release of a coroner’s report on Meunier’s case, urging health authorities in Quebec to enhance their practices. MÉMO-Qc, an advocacy group for individuals with disabilities, especially those with spinal cord injuries, held a press conference alongside Patrick Martin-Ménard, the legal representative of Meunier’s partner, Sylvie Brosseau. Martin-Ménard termed Meunier’s ordeal as “utterly appalling,” emphasizing Brosseau’s commitment to ensuring such tragedies do not recur.
The envisaged class action aims to represent individuals like Meunier who were hospitalized without access to appropriate mattresses and subsequently developed pressure ulcers. Martin-Ménard underscored that such incidents were not isolated, with his law firm receiving numerous complaints resembling Meunier’s case within the healthcare system. Additionally, Brosseau intends to pursue a lawsuit for damages, with a formal notice slated for Saint-Jérôme Hospital and Santé Québec, as Martin-Ménard eyes an out-of-court settlement.
Recalling her interaction at the emergency ward in January, Brosseau lamented feeling disregarded as a caregiver, asserting, “They didn’t listen to me.” Brosseau and the organization commended coroner Dave Kimpton’s efforts and urged the government to implement the recommendations outlined in the report. Kimpton stressed the importance of swift and guaranteed access to suitable mattresses for spinal cord injury patients, emphasizing that Meunier’s injuries either emerged or worsened during hospital stays.
In response to the coroner’s report, CISSS des Laurentides pledged to embrace the recommendations with a commitment to bolster ongoing improvement initiatives since Meunier’s passing. The local health authority refrained from commenting on the potential lawsuits but reiterated their dedication to enhancing practices for better patient care.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quadriplegic-quebec-man-assisted-dying-normand-meunier-9.6993149)