For the first time in C
anada, a book tells the story of a person who chose to die with dignity. The author, Paul-François Sylvestre, lives near Parliament Street and his book is entitled Ma jumelle m’a quitté dans la dignité (My Twin Left Me with Dignity). The publisher (Éditions du GREF) is based at Glendon College.
Sylvestre’s twin is Paulette Marisi, who suffered from multiple sclerosis since the age of 49. This former professor of Education at University of Regina could not benefit from the medically assisted death legislation authorized by the Canadian Parliament in June 2016 because she was not “terminally ill”.
The Toronto author was informed in July 2016 that his twin sister, 68, would be going to Switzerland the following month for an assisted suicide offered by “Dignitas – To live with dignity – To die with dignity”. At Paulette’s request, Paul wrote a detailed account of family members’ reaction to this decision and described the procedure followed in Dignitas’ clinic near Zurich.
The book is a first in Canada (French or English). It includes many heart wrenching testimonies and some 30 photos. Available at Toronto’s French bookstore La Mosaïque (24 Spadina Road).
Contributed by Paul-François Sylvestre
