Canadian Actress Sues for MAID Access in Mental Health Case

Canadian actress and comedian Claire Brosseau is suing the government for access to the country's Medical Assistance in Dying program, arguing that its exclusion of patients with solely mental health conditions discriminates against those like her who have endured decades of unsuccessful treatments for severe illnesses.

Brosseau, 48, from Montreal, has battled manic depression since her diagnosis at age 14, along with anxiety disorder, substance abuse disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic suicidal ideation, an eating disorder, personality disorder and other conditions. She revealed in an open letter on her Substack that she has attempted suicide multiple times and sought help from psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors across North America. Despite trying dozens of medications, various therapies including behavioral, talk and art approaches, electroconvulsive therapy, and guided psychedelics, her symptoms have persisted, sometimes offering temporary relief but ultimately returning.

Her struggles trace back to childhood, when she wrote in a diary at age eight that she wanted to die. As an honors student and theater enthusiast in high school, Brosseau graduated at...