The Welcome Visitor: Living Well, Dying Well

And who isn't? It may be not a book you might feel inclined to read if you are on the sunny shores of your 30's or 40's. If, however, you are like me in your mid-fifties and watching the rising tide either for yourself or a relative, it's a good piece of homework - and of ammunition to deal with the beauracracy of end-of-life treatment and death in or out of hospital - even your own if you are well enough prepared in advance. It tells you about Advanced Directions and Statements of Preference, and for that chapter alone it is worth the money so that you get peace of mind knowing what is going to happen to you when you are beyond consciousness. I think it whould be required reading for everyone who has a terminal illness before they get too ill to consider the implications, and when you consider that we are all suffering from a terminal illness ('cos none of us get out of here alive), then yes, it's a good read.

It's by no means a morbid book, is very well written and informative and not without its lighter moments. I found it compulsive reading, perhaps because my father is an Alzheimer's patient as was John's. I also lost my step-mother to cancer, and I wish I had had access to this book before in order to help and advise her.

Humphrys and Jarvis write from their own experiences, and although I'm sure there are other terminal illnesses and other circumstances under which people die or wish to be allowed to die, with a little tweaking here or there I think for the broader picture it paints that those others and their carers would appreciate the value of this book.

An argument for Assisted Suicide (2/2 people found this helpful)

I found this very interesting although in principle I support the author's views. I have three comments - it is too dominated by cancer patients' problems - there are other long term life-diminishing conditions and I am not at all sure that a person with Alzheimers suffers - its more the lookers on that do. Secondly there is rather too much on what doctors can/cannot do and not enough on the role of the domestic carer and thirdly the setting up of a lasting power of attorney is nowhere near as simple as it is made to appear - it is also very expensive up front. the former enduring power (limited to financial matters) was easy and cheap. But an enjoyable read all the same

Doesn't tell us a lot (1/7 people found this helpful)

This book informed me that some people have a 'good death' and others don't. I was already aware of that fact. I found no helpful information in it at all.

How to Proceed (0/0 people found this helpful)

Of value to see what lies ahead. A sound reassurance that it is OK to die and not to be afraid.

A Good Death (2/2 people found this helpful)

I heard this book being talked about on BBC Radion 4; Dr Sarah Jarvis was being asked about her work. It was on Dr Jarvis' answers to the ethical and moral questions raised in the interview that made me buy this book. John Humphrys writes well but it was Dr Jarvis' sections that were the most informative. The book was a rapid and easy read, at times very sad and at others uplifting. I would recommend this book as an introduction to the idea of having a "good" death when suffering from a terminal illness. I felt it useful enough to pass on to colleagues.

The Welcome Visitor: Living Well, Dying Well

John Humphrys

Reader Reviews:

Recommended reading if you are worried about dying. (3/3 people found this helpful)

An argument for Assisted Suicide (2/2 people found this helpful)

Doesn't tell us a lot (1/7 people found this helpful)

How to Proceed (0/0 people found this helpful)

A Good Death (2/2 people found this helpful)

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