Robert Twycross
Encyclopedia
Robert Twycross is a retired British
physician
and writer
. He was a pioneer of the hospice
movement during the 1970s, when he helped palliative care
gain recognition as an accepted field of modern medicine
.
, receiving a BM BCh in 1965. After completing his MRCP
, in 1971 he was appointed as a Clinical Research Fellow at St Christopher's Hospice by Dame Cicely Saunders
.
During his tenure there, Twycross completed studies on the effectiveness of morphine
, diamorphine and methadone
in managing cancer pain
. These studies helped standardize and simplify the treatment of pain, eliminating more complicated treatments such as the Brompton cocktail
. This research led to Dr. Twycross being awarded the University of Oxford
higher degree of Doctor of Medicine
.
's Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care
from 1988–2005, which signalled a period of extensive travel and teaching around the world, most notably to Poland, India, and Argentina. He also served for 25 years at Sir Michael Sobell House
in Oxford, from 1976–2001, first as the NHS Medical Director and later as Clinical Reader in Palliative Medicine, Oxford University, and Consultant Physician. In 1996 he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists
"for services to medicine," the first physician to be elected from the field of palliative medicine and hospice care. Twycross retired from Oxford University and the National Health Service
in 2001.
The latest book to be published by palliativedrugs.com, the Palliative Care Formulary 4th edition, was published in October 2011 and is available through www.palliativedrugs.com.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He was a pioneer of the hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
movement during the 1970s, when he helped palliative care
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...
gain recognition as an accepted field of modern medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
.
Education and early achievements
Twycross graduated from Oxford UniversityUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, receiving a BM BCh in 1965. After completing his MRCP
Membership of the Royal College of Physicians
Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians is a postgraduate medical diploma. The examinations are run by the Federation of the Medical Royal Colleges of the United Kingdom – the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the Royal College...
, in 1971 he was appointed as a Clinical Research Fellow at St Christopher's Hospice by Dame Cicely Saunders
Cicely Saunders
Dame Cicely Mary Saunders, was a prominent Anglican, nurse, physician and writer, involved with many international universities...
.
During his tenure there, Twycross completed studies on the effectiveness of morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
, diamorphine and methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
in managing cancer pain
Cancer pain
Pain is a symptom frequently associated with cancer. Cancer can cause pain by irritating or damaging nerves, by stimulating nociceptors , or by releasing chemicals that make nociceptors respond to normally non-painful stimuli. Cancer pain may be caused by the tumor itself or by medical...
. These studies helped standardize and simplify the treatment of pain, eliminating more complicated treatments such as the Brompton cocktail
Brompton cocktail
Brompton cocktail, sometimes called a Brompton mixture, is an elixir meant for use as a pain suppressant, and dosed for prophylaxis. Made from morphine or diacetylmorphine , cocaine, highly-pure ethyl alcohol , and sometimes with chlorpromazine to counteract nausea, it was given to terminally-ill...
. This research led to Dr. Twycross being awarded the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
higher degree of Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
.
Later career and international influence
Twycross served as the Director of the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
's Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...
from 1988–2005, which signalled a period of extensive travel and teaching around the world, most notably to Poland, India, and Argentina. He also served for 25 years at Sir Michael Sobell House
Sobell House Hospice
The Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice is an Oxford based Hospice serving the residents of Oxfordshire affected by life-limiting illness.In 1976, Sir Michael Sobell and the friends of Sobell House donated the funds to help build the original hospice...
in Oxford, from 1976–2001, first as the NHS Medical Director and later as Clinical Reader in Palliative Medicine, Oxford University, and Consultant Physician. In 1996 he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists
Royal College of Radiologists
The Royal College of Radiologists is the professional body responsible for the specialty of clinical oncology and clinical radiology throughout the United Kingdom. Its role is to advance the science and practice of radiology and oncology, further public education and set appropriate professional...
"for services to medicine," the first physician to be elected from the field of palliative medicine and hospice care. Twycross retired from Oxford University and the National Health Service
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
in 2001.
Palliativedrugs.com
In 2004, Twycross, along with Dr Andrew Wilcock, founded palliativedrugs.com Ltd, to provide "essential independent information for health professionals worldwide about drugs used in palliative and hospice care." In addition to publishing books, they maintain the website www.palliativedrugs.com, where the information from the Palliative Care Formulary is available on-line. The website has received positive reviews, and had some 20,000 registered members as of October 2011.The latest book to be published by palliativedrugs.com, the Palliative Care Formulary 4th edition, was published in October 2011 and is available through www.palliativedrugs.com.
Honours
- Honorary membership of the Polish Society for Palliative Medicine, 2011
- Lifetime Achievement Award, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative MedicineAmerican Academy of Hospice and Palliative MedicineThe American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine is a professional organization for physicians specializing in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, headquartered in Glenview, IL. Membership is open to all health care providers committed to improving the care of patients with serious or...
, 2008 - Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian Association of Palliative Care, 2008
- Vittorio Ventafridda Award, International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care, 2006
- Fellow of the Royal College of RadiologistsRoyal College of RadiologistsThe Royal College of Radiologists is the professional body responsible for the specialty of clinical oncology and clinical radiology throughout the United Kingdom. Its role is to advance the science and practice of radiology and oncology, further public education and set appropriate professional...
, 1996 - Sertürner Award, Germany, 1995
- Founder's Award, National Hospice Organization, 1994
- Aid and Cooperation Medal, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Poland, 1993
External links
- Palliativedrugs.com
- Academic Report: Sir Michael Sobell House/WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care
- Dr Robert Twycross, International Hartheim Conference