Christine Gauthier tells Steve Edginton on GBN America that she was offered euthanasia after asking for equipment to help make living with her disability easier.
Gauthier, 54, is a Paralympic army veteran living with a musculo-skeletic disorder which affects her back, legs and hips.
She told Steve that the affair has left her despondent, and she’s even considered applying for euthanasia to see how long it would take compared to the amount of time she will have to wait for the requested equipment.
“I served two years with the Canadian forces and 10 years as a para-athlete”, she said.
Christine Gauthier broke down as she spoke about her treatment by the Canadian government
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“As I am waiting for medical equipment and an elevator, it’s been six years now, it’s still not there.
“I told my agent I ‘couldn’t go anymore’ and he told me ‘I have the right to die’.
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Steve Edginton spoke to Christine Gauthier
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“There I am, just trying to get the proper equipment to live a life of autonomy and independence, I understand I still have limitations.
“I heard last week that I am waiting for confirmation that I possibly have a digestive cancer. It’s a shock to me, even with this waiting time now.
“I am so close to carrying out a test. I would love to do it. I would never go this way, ever. But I would love to go next week and start the process of seeing how long it would take to get euthanasia.
“It’s ridiculous because I could probably be dead in two weeks. They chose not to give us the tools.”
Justin Trudeau responded to the claims in 2022
REUTERSThe initial offer of euthanasia is said to have been made in 2022, 6 years after Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party introduced new laws legalising euthanasia for terminally ill Canadians.
Gauthier claimed she was told she had the “right to die” by a caseworker from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), a government agency.
Responding to the revelations, Trudeau told reporters in 2022: “We are following up with investigations and we are changing protocols to ensure what should seem obvious to all of us: that it is not the place of Veterans Affairs Canada, who are there to support those people who stepped up to serve their country, to offer them medical assistance in dying.”
The VAC said it was “concerned” by the allegations, but “did not find evidence in our investigation that supported Ms Gauthier’s claims, [and] we remain committed to reviewing any new evidence that Ms Gauthier, or any other Veteran, brings forward”.
It added: “This is not a widespread, systemic issue, nor is it a reflection of the work of hundreds of case managers and Veteran service agents who interact with the utmost care, compassion and respect with Veterans every single day.”
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.