Sue Rodriguez was a Canadian right-to-die activist. In August 1991, she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and was given two to five years to live.
She ultimately made the decision to end her life and she sought the assistance of a doctor to that end, leading to a legal battle.
She lost her case in front of the Supreme Court of Canada but took her own life with the help of an anonymous doctor on February 12, 1994. She is cited as an important figure in the eventual legalization of medical assistance for dying in Canada.
On June 17, 2016, medically assisted death became legal in Canada. An emotional Svend Robinson, who now lives in Geneva, Switzerland, told the press: “Today’s ruling is a victory for compassion, for justice and for humanity.
And I pay tribute to the memory of Sue Rodriguez, who with courage, passion and dignity blazed the trail that led to this historic day. She would have been thrilled”.
Sue Rodriguez Age
Sue Rodriguez was 43 years at the time of her demise. Sue Rodriguez was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in the Toronto suburb of Thornhill.
She lived in California for a time before returning to Canada. Her first marriage to Henry Rodriguez ended after less than eight years, and she had a son.
Sue Rodriguez Height
Sue Rodriguez was around 5 ft 2 inches tall.
Sue Rodriguez Books
The 1996 book Timely Death was inspired by the Sue Rodriguez story, and the 1998 film At the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story, which stars Wendy Crewson as Sue Rodriguez, dramatizes her story.
It was a detailed documentary of the last few years of Sue Rodriguez’ life and indeed her childhood. A legal battle with the BC Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada had everyone’s attention.
Sue Rodriguez Nationality
Sue Rodriguez was a Canadian right-to-die activist. Until Sue Rodriguez came along, no Canadian had made the private act of dying so public.
The woman from North Saanich became a household name across Canada for her fight to die with dignity.
Diagnosed with an incurable degenerative motor neuron disease that eventually paralyzes the body, she wanted to have the right to choose a doctor to help her end her life before that happened.