Robert Geoffrey Twycross: palliative care physician, pioneer of the modern hospice movement, and staunch opponent of assisted dying

Abstract

As befitting someone whose life’s work was to enable patients to have a good death, Robert Twycross had mapped out his own to the last detail. Every aspect of his funeral was planned. The day before he died he was dictating messages to publishers about a forthcoming textbook. He had even told one of his daughters the day he was most likely to die—and he was right. More importantly, says his eldest daughter Alison Twycross, who was with him as he died, his final hours were as he would have advocated. “Dad died very peacefully in a way that I wish everyone could achieve,” she said. “He was ready. He was at home, pain free, and his family were around him—it was a good death.” Apart from Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement, “I don’t think there has been anyone else that has made such a sustained and major contribution to palliative care,” said Andew Wilcock, long term mentee, writing partner, and friend. “He leaves a profound legacy that continues to influence how end-of-life care is provided around the world. Countless numbers of patients and their families …