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Well-known children’s author Robert Munsch has been approved for medical aid in dying in Canada.

Munsch, whose over 80 titles include Love You Forever, was found to have memory loss in 2021 and is affected by Parkinson's disease.

Munsch explained that he is still considering a date for his death, but shared he would take action "if I reach a point with significant difficulty talking and communicating."

Canada initially permitted assisted dying in 2016 for people with incurable diseases. In 2021, the law was changed to apply to those with serious and chronic medical problems, also under non-terminal circumstances.

Munsch has published over 80 million copies of his books in North America alone and his stories have been rendered in over 20 tongues—among them multiple global and local dialects.

Over twenty years ago, Munsch was made a member of the Canadian honors system. Ten years after, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.

Munsch explained that his decision was shaped by seeing his brother succumb to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neurone disease.

He stated, "He was sustained via numerous procedures. I felt, he should be permitted to pass."

Throughout the country, individuals who are adults must meet a number of conditions to be approved for aid in dying.

Requirements involve having a "serious and incurable illness", making a "unpressured decision" that is independent of coercion, and being in an "late stage of irreversible decline in function".

Two independent doctors or nurse practitioners must then assess the person to confirm that all necessary criteria are met.

Munsch's publishing house commented that his move to share openly about end-of-life options "reminds us why Robert's stories continues to impact countless readers."

Munsch's offspring, Julie, wrote that her dad’s choice to opt for medically assisted dying was determined half a decade back.

Julie described the feature as "great", but added that "nowhere is it suggested my dad is declining rapidly, and certainly not that he's going to die in the near future."

As per the country’s legislation, the individual must be able to provide clear consent on the date of their passing.

Munsch noted, "It’s essential I choose the point when I can still ask for it."

Assisted death made up almost five percent of passings in Canada in 2023, per the most recent official government statistics.

Approximately 96 percent of the over 15,000 individuals who received medical assistance in 2023 had a death considered "likely imminent", due to severe medical conditions such as cancer.