Susan Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Susan Jane Shipley August 2, 1950 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | February 12, 1994 (aged 43) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Known for | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) sufferer who unsuccessfully litigated for the right to die by assisted suicide |
| Children | 1 |
Sue Rodriguez (August 2, 1950 – February 12, 1994) 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.[1] 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 in dying in Canada.