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 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 legalized euthanasia in 2016 for people with terminal illnesses. In 2021, the law was changed to include those with serious and 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 his interview with the New York Times Magazine, Munsch revealed that his decision was influenced by watching his brother die from Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Munsch commented: They kept him alive through all these interventions. I thought, let him die. In Canada, people over 18 must meet several requirements to be eligible for assisted dying, including having a serious and incurable illness and making a voluntary and informed request.

Two independent doctors or nurse practitioners must confirm that all eligibility requirements are met.

Scholastic, Munsch's publisher, stated that his decision to speak publicly about medically assisted dying highlights the enduring impact of his work on generations of readers.

His daughter, Julie, shared that her father's decision to pursue medically assisted dying was made five years ago, emphasizing his current well-being.

According to Canadian law, individuals must be able to actively consent on the day of their death.

Government statistics indicate that medically assisted dying accounted for 4.7% of deaths in Canada in 2023, with the majority of cases involving severe medical conditions.