The Welcome Visitor

by John Humphrys

Death is a subject modern society shies away from. Even doctors avoid the word. But if we regard death as a failure in our frantic desire to prolong life at all costs, how can we ever arrive at a humane approach to those whose lives have lost all meaning? John Humphrys asked himself this question when he watched his father's final sad, lingering, undignified years. His death, when it came at last, was a welcome end to his suffering and the anguish of those who loved him. It inspired this book. Here he takes a wider look at how our attitudes to death have changed as doctors have learned how to prolong life beyond anything that could have been imagined only a few generations ago. He and his co-author Dr Sarah Jarvis, who has 22 years experience of dealing with the dying, confront one of the great challenges facing the western world today. We live for almost twice as long as our great-grandparents but refuse to accept that longevity can sometimes be a curse as well as a blessing. Are we keeping people alive simply because we can? And what of their carers whose lives may be ruined as a result of their own sacrifice?There are of course no easy answers, but the first step must surely be to accept that death can be as welcome as it is inevitable.

Genres: Philosophy

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2009

About the author

Desmond John Humphrys is a Welsh author, journalist and presenter of radio and television, who has won many national broadcasting awards. From 1981 to 1987 he was the main presenter for the Nine O'Clock News, the flagship BBC news television programme, and since 1987 he has been a presenter on the award-winning BBC Radio 4 programme, Today. He is also currently the host of the popular BBC Two television quiz show Mastermind.

John Humphrys has written several books, including Lost for Words, in which he criticizes what he sees as the widespread misuse of the English language, plus 'Devil's Advocate', 'Beyond Words', 'The Great Food Gamble' and 'In God We Doubt: Confessions Of A Failed Atheist'. Humphrys is an agnostic, but has a curiosity to test his agnosticism and challenge established religions to see if they can restore his childhood belief in God. In 2006, he presented a BBC Radio 4 programme, titled "Humphrys in Search of God" where he spoke to leading British authorities on Christianity, Judaism and Islam to try and restore his faith.

Humphrys is a columnist for the Daily Mail.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book disjointed, boring, and depressing. Having said that I think it might be a good read for medical students or newly-qualified doctors, wanting to learn more about how to negotiate with people about how they want to be treated as they near the end of their lives. It was written by John Humphrys (Radio 4's national treasure) and Dr. Sarah Jarvis. They each wrote different sections, which are clearly attributed to one or the other.

The one thing to come out of the book for me is the need for all of us to make a living will/advance directive, and there are some excellent guidelines about the things you have to take into consideration when doing so in the UK.

* It must be signed, dated and witnessed.

* If you want your Advanced Decision to include refusal of life-saving treatment, you have to record explicitly that your decision stands 'even if life is at risk'.

* You need to make it clear that you're 'of sound mind', and that you know the Advanced Decision will only 'kick in' when you're incapable of making your wishes known.

* It applies only to treatment you want to refuse: being put on a ventilator; being tube-fed if you're in a coma etc. You can't specify what you do want, such as: 'If I have breast cancer and I'm unconscious because it's spread to my brain, I still want to be given Herceptin.'

* And now for the really tricky bit. Unless you're absolutely determined that you don't want to have a particular treatment - say, cardiac resuscitation - under any circumstances, you have to be very specific. It's not good enough to include a blanket clause such as 'I don't want to have cardiac resuscitation if the chances of success are small.' You have to be specific eg

'If I am terminally ill and expect to die from my underlying condition within the next three months, I do not wish to be treated with antibiotics if I develop pneumonia or to be resuscitated if my heart or breathing stop.

If I am unable to swallow, I do not wish to be fed by a gastric tube.

If I suffer a stroke which affects my level of consciousness, I do not wish to be resuscitated."

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Finally, two other points of interest.

Firstly in the papers this week (26/11/16) there was a piece saying that in future people's instructions in living wills should be brought before the courts for approval before treatment is withdrawn. To me that sounds like a big chunk of bureaucracy being placed on top of people's wishes.

Secondly, if you want to hear a superb programme which deals with end of life issues and advance directives, I strongly recommend Planet Money's brilliant podcast - "The Town that loves Death." Follow the link, scroll down to 5th October 2016, episode 521, and you will find it there.

http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510289/pl...

[The Mortal Atheist Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Welcome Visitor” is a conversational exchange between John Humphrys (a journalist/broadcaster) and Dr. Sarah Jarvis (a GP in England). Topics include physician-assisted dying, end-of-life care, and what role quality of life should play in medical decision-making. Jarvis’s chapters are informative, whereas Humphrys’ chapters draw more on personal experience, including the deaths of his father, brother, and former wife. While nothing in this book is groundbreaking, it is an untroubled introduction to terminal autonomy, medical assistance in dying, and how we might define a “good death.”

[Szilvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely well written and discusses a valid topic that most people don't feel comfortable talking about. I loved the argument of having the right to make decisions about everything related to our life and to our body, including also the closure of our journey when we happen to end up in a terminal, vegetative state. Highly recommended read for everyone!

[Leon Duveen]

A well written very thoughtful & thought provoking book.

[Susmita Bhattacharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important book to read as death is the only certainty in life and we always try to look away from it.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about death. Unstuffy and interesting it doesn't beat around any bushes but is written from the perspective of both a GP and that of someone who has been involved as a family member in the death of several people who he was close to.

A worthwhile read. Both thought-provoking and honest. I found the chapters written by the doctor to be especially worthwhile.

4-stars.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because I believe it is my choice how I did regardless of the medical profession

I do not want to be a burden on anyone whether my family or whoever.

I do not want exist in a vegetative state. Just get me some masculine and let me go

[David Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit to coming to this book with a pro-choice slant but this a thought provoking and powerful discussion around the right to die

[Laura Macdonald]

This was a very interesting and uplifting book, which seems strange, given the subject matter. John Humphrys and Sarah Jarvis, take an unflinching view of society's need to prolong life, often, at the cost of the dying person's family, the health service and most importantly the dying person, themselves. This isn't just a book about making informed choices for yourself or your loved ones, it also is a lesson in how to live well, so that when your time is up, you can face it without fear of pain and distress at the end.