Manitoba woman with 'grievous medical condition' to apply for physician-assisted death

A Manitoba woman plans toapply to the courtto get to accessphysician-assisted death, making her the second person in the province to do so.

Court documents, which seek protection for the identity of the woman, say she is from a small Manitoba community and hasa grievous medical condition that meets the criteria for an exemption.

According to the documents, she has the mental capacity to make the decision and is or will be incapable of ending her life without a physician-assisted death.

Lawyers for the woman are also requesting a publication ban on the woman's name and location, as well as the medical professionals that would be involved in the procedure.

In 2015, Canada's Supreme Court struck down a ban on people with grievous and irremediable medical conditions accessing doctor-assisted death.

• Read the text of billC-14on medical-assisted dying
• Insurance companies to pay out for assisted death
• Calgary woman dies after being granted right to physician-assisted suicide

The bill, C-14, had its first reading last monthbut has yet to be passed in the federal legislature.

The federal government must do so by June 6, 2016, but in the meantime, patients can apply for exemptions to allow them to access physician-assisted death earlier.

Earlier this year, a Calgary patient was the first Canadian awarded an exemption, and last month, the first Manitoban was granted one as well.

This latest application will be heard in court Friday.