Calgary woman whose MAID access currently blocked by courts now starving herself to death

A Calgary woman whose access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) is currently blocked by the courts is starving herself to death and expects to die within a few weeks, according to court documents.

The 27-year-old woman, who can only be identified as M.V. because of a publication ban, is asking the Alberta Court of Appeal to lift the judicial stay that puts a hold on her MAID approval pending appeal arguments in November.

M.V. was set to receive MAID on Feb. 1 but her father — W.V. —has engaged in a four-month legal battle in an attempt to prevent that from happening. 

The father argued his daughter does not have any medical conditions that would qualify her for MAID and asked the courts to intervene. 

In April, a Court of King's Bench judge sided with M.V. but stayed his own decision to uphold her right to dignity and autonomy until the case could be heard by the Alberta Court of Appeal. 

On Tuesday, M.V.'s lawyer Austin Paladeau filed an application with the province's top court asking for that stay to be lifted because of a "material change in circumstance."

On May 28, M.V commenced voluntary stoppage of eating and drinking (VSED). 

"VSED is incredibly unpleasant and is increasing my suffering," reads part of M.V.'s affidavit filed with the application. 

"I would greatly prefer to receive MAID to reduce the suffering I have to endure to protect my autonomy in acting out a decision I have already made."

M.V. says she cannot wait to die until Oct. 7 appeal. 

In her affidavit, M.V. says she's had multiple admissions to the emergency room and "non-psychiatric inpatient admissions" over the last several months. 

"My physical suffering continues to be intolerable."

M.V. has not disclosed what medical conditions she suffers from that allowed her to qualify for MAID. 

Her father believes his daughter is generally healthy, and his lawyer previously argued in court that any physical symptoms she presents are a result of psychological conditions.