Daughters Claim Their Mother Was Not Mentally Fit for Assisted Suicide; Call for Stronger Legislation
Canadian police are investigating the assisted suicide of Donna Duncan, a 61-year-old nurse from Abbotsford, British Columbia, following concerns raised by her daughters. Alicia and Christie Duncan allege that their mother, who died by assisted suicide on 29 October 2023, was not in a suitable mental state to consent to the procedure. They claim she had been acting unusually, becoming irritable and displaying behavior that was “very strange” for her, raising doubts about whether she should have been approved for assisted death.
The tragedy comes after Donna Duncan, a psychiatric nurse, sustained a concussion in a car accident in February 2021. Her condition led to depression, weight loss, and chronic pain, which the family believes influenced her decision-making capacity.
Alicia Duncan expressed her desire for changes in the law, stating, “I don’t want this to ever happen to another family ever again.” She is calling for stronger laws and regulations regarding assisted suicide in Canada.