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 legalised 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 the interview with the New York Times Magazine, Munsch said his decision was influenced by watching his brother die from Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Munsch stated, 'They kept him alive through all these interventions. I thought, let him die.'

Canadian law requires that individuals over 18 meet specific criteria to qualify for assisted dying, including having a serious and incurable illness and making a voluntary request not influenced by external pressures.

Two independent doctors or nurse practitioners must assess the individual to confirm all eligibility requirements are satisfied.

Scholastic, Munsch's publisher, released a statement highlighting that his public discussion on medically assisted dying underscores why his work resonates across generations.

Munsch's daughter, Julie, noted her father's choice to pursue assisted dying was made five years ago, emphasizing that he is currently okay and not at immediate risk of dying.

Under Canadian law, a person must actively consent on the day of their death. Munsch stated, 'I have to pick the moment when I can still ask for it.'

Medically assisted dying accounted for 4.7% of deaths in Canada in 2023, with a significant portion of patients suffering from severe conditions like cancer.