Robert Munsch has been approved for a physician-assisted death, the New York Times reports in a profile of the Canadian children’s book author.
Munsch, 80, is best known for his books Love You Forever, illustrated by Sheila McGraw, about a mother’s intense devotion to her son, and The Paper Bag Princess, illustrated by Michael Martchenko, in which a princess rescues her ungrateful fiancé from a dragon. His other books include Millicent and the Wind, illustrated by Suzanne Duranceau; More Pies!, illustrated by Martchenko; and Mud Puddle, illustrated by Dušan Petričić.
Munsch has been diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s disease, and he uses a walker to reduce the risk of falls. “The big thing now is balance,” he told the Times. “And it’s a bad idea if I fall. So most days, I don’t have the urge to go tell stories.”
He has been approved for “medical assistance in dying,” or MAID, the term used in Canada for physician-assisted death.
“Hello, Doc—come kill me!” he jokingly told the Times. “How much time do I have? Fifteen seconds!”
He has not chosen a date for his death, he said. Under Canadian regulations, he must be able to consent on the day he chooses to die. “I have to pick the moment when I can still ask for it,” he said.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
