In brief
Renowned children's writer Robert Munsch, famous for classics like 'The Paper Bag Princess', has received approval for medically assisted dying in Canada amid battles with dementia and Parkinson's disease. The author expresses his intentions not to rush the process while emphasizing the importance of deciding when to end his life on his own terms, influenced by his family's experiences with terminal illness.
Celebrated children's writer Robert Munsch has been approved for medically assisted dying in Canada.
Munsch, whose 85 published books include The Paper Bag Princess and Love You Forever, was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 and also has Parkinson's disease.
The 80-year-old author told the New York Times Magazine that he had not decided a date for his death, but said he would go when I start having real trouble talking and communicating. Then I'll know.
Canada first legalised euthanasia in 2016 for people with terminal illnesses. In 2021, the law was changed to include those with serious, chronic physical conditions, even in non-life threatening circumstances.
Munsch has sold more than 80 million copies of his books in North America alone and they have been translated into at least 20 languages - including Arabic, Spanish, and Anishinaabemowin, an indigenous North American language.
In 1999, Munsch was made a member of the Order of Canada. A decade later, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.
In the interview, he mentioned that his decision was influenced by watching his brother die from Lou Gehrig's disease. He expressed a belief that his brother should have been allowed to die without prolonged medical interventions.
In Canada, individuals over 18 must meet several strict requirements to be eligible for assisted dying, including having a serious and incurable illness and making a voluntary request that is not the result of external pressure.
Two independent doctors or nurse practitioners must then assess the patient to confirm that all eligibility requirements are met.
Scholastic, Munsch's publisher, shared a statement on social media praising his decision to discuss medically assisted dying, remarking on the profound impact of his literature.
His daughter, Julie, clarified on Facebook that her father's choice for medically assisted dying was made five years ago, highlighting that there is no imminent threat to his life.
According to Canadian law, a person must be able to actively consent on the day of death, allowing Munsch to choose the moment when he can still request it.
In 2023, medically assisted dying accounted for 4.7% of deaths in Canada, with severe medical conditions like cancer being the primary cause.
