Quebecer Nicole Gladu, who long campaigned for her right to medical assistance in dying, died last Sunday.
Former Télé-Québec producer and longtime friend of Ms. Gladu, Gaétan Lavoie, confirmed the news Thursday on his Facebook page. “It is of natural death that she died,” he added, in his publication.
Along with Jean Truchon, Ms. Gladu fought long and hard for provincial and federal laws to extend medical assistance in dying to people whose death is not foreseeable in the short term.
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti reacted to the news on Thursday afternoon. “I want to salute the courage and determination of Nicole Gladu. She made the whole country think about what suffering and dignity meant. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” he posted on Twitter.
In Quebec, a consultation to expand medical assistance in dying was conducted over seven days last spring and in August. A total of 77 individuals and organizations were heard and 75 briefs were filed. The final report of this consultation was made public last December.