Overview

• The 80-year-old author, diagnosed with dementia in 2021 and later Parkinson’s, applied for MAID shortly after his diagnosis and was approved.
• He has not scheduled the procedure and says he expects to proceed when speaking and communicating become difficult.
• Canadian rules require patients to confirm consent at the time of MAID, with limited waivers for those likely to lose capacity.
• Publishers including Scholastic Canada shared supportive notes after a New York Times profile revealed his approval and intentions.
• His decision is being discussed in the context of ongoing scrutiny of MAID safeguards, including a 2024 Ontario coroner’s report on vulnerable patients.