Pierre Trudeau chose to die with his mind intact, even though it meant a shorter life.

A new e-book from the Ottawa bureau chief for the Huffington Post reveals Trudeau refused treatment for advanced prostate cancer rather than face losing his famously sharp mind to dementia.  “Contender: The Justin Trudeau Story” is written by Althia Raj.  “At 80,” she writes, “Pierre Trudeau had been diagnosed with metastasized prostate cancer.  His doctor had also told him he had early stages of dementia.  The prostate cancer could be treated but the former prime minister wanted the cancer to claim him before he lost his mind.”  Justin Trudeau himself says he does not dispute the account, which suggests Pierre Trudeau made the decision about six months prior to his death on September 28, 2000.

Pierre Trudeau was acclaimed by his admirers as the most intelligent prime minister ever to preside over Canada’s government.  He was dubbed a modern-day “Philosopher King”.  Trudeau served as prime minister from 1968-1979 and, and after a brief period when Joe Clark led the government, again from 1980-84.    His death sparked an outpouring of public mourning rarely seen in Canada.