Public inquiry launched into quadriplegic man who sought MAID following hospital-acquired bedsore

An inquiry is underway into the death of Normand Meunier, a quadriplegic man who opted for medical assistance in dying after developing severe bedsores.

A coroner’s inquiry is underway in Montreal into the death of Normand Meunier, a quadriplegic man who opted for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) after developing a severe bedsore during a hospital stay.

Meunier, 66, died on March 29, 2024 — less than a month after he was admitted to the Saint-Jérôme Hospital, roughly 45 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

According to his partner, Sylvie Brosseau, Meunier was left lying on a stretcher in the emergency room for four days without proper support, and the wound that formed as a result deteriorated rapidly.

“It was scraped to the point where there was nothing left,” Brosseau told reporters at the Montreal courthouse on Monday. “There was no skin, you could see the bone and muscle.”

Photos of the pressure sore, obtained by CTV News but not authorized for publication, show a deep, gaping wound several centimetres wide.

Brosseau says she repeatedly requested a special mattress adapted to Meunier’s needs.

“It was a constant battle,” she said. “We kept asking, but it never arrived.”

Medical experts consulted by the couple told them the wound could take months to heal.

In pain and exhausted, Meunier chose to end his life using MAiD.

“He was six-foot-four, 300 pounds, a trucker — he used to always be on the move,” said Brosseau. “Finding himself in a wheelchair after his injury was already hard.”

Call for a public inquiry

The public inquiry began Monday at the Montreal courthouse and is expected to continue through June.

Coroner Dave Kimpton opened proceedings by acknowledging the “charged emotion” of the case and asked all participants to remain respectful.

More than 30 witnesses are scheduled to testify, including doctors, nurses, and other staff from the Saint-Jérôme Hospital.

Brosseau is expected to take the stand on May 15 and she said her goal is to set the record straight.

“There’s a lot being said in court, but it’s not all accurate,” she said. “That’s why we demanded a public inquiry — not one behind closed doors.”

Meunier suffered a spinal cord injury in 2022 that left his arms and legs paralyzed.

He received support from Moëlle Épinière et Motricité Québec (MÉMO-Qc) an advocacy group for people with spinal cord injuries.

Ariane Gauthier-Tremblay, an advocacy organizer with the organization said Meunier’s case is tragic — and not isolated.

“We have a list of our members who developed bedsores after a hospital stay — it’s something we observe in many facilities,” said Gauthier-Tremblay. “Often, there are protocols in place, but they’re not followed. There’s neglect, especially in prevention.”

Walter Zelaya, the group’s executive director, says Quebec has the knowledge and resources to prevent deaths like Meunier’s — but coordination is lacking.

“We have the expertise and deaths like this one shouldn’t happen,” Zelaya said. “In emergency rooms, doctors will say, ‘I’m here to treat your heart, to keep you breathing — pressure sores aren’t important.’ But they can lead to death if not treated properly.”

Mark Beggs, an integration counselor with MÉMO-Qc, says what’s missing most is prevention — and understanding the risks faced by patients with limited mobility.

“We know our bodies,” he told CTV News. “But sometimes doctors don’t believe us — they’re supposed to be the experts, but they don’t hear us.”

Beggs described Meunier as someone that was always ready to have a chat, and to tell a joke.

“He enjoyed life, and he wished he could’ve had a longer life with his wife,” he said.

The inquiry will examine the care Meunier received at the Saint-Jérôme Hospital and make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future.

For Brosseau, there’s no bringing Meunier back — but she hopes something will change. “This needs to be made public,” she said.