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Death Interrupted: How Modern Medicine Is Complicating The Way We Die

In Death Interrupted, ICU doctor Blair Bigham shares his first-hand experiences of how medicine has complicated the way we die and offers a road map for dying in the modern era.

Doctors today can call on previously unimaginable technologies to help keep our bodies alive. In this new era, most organs can be kept from dying almost indefinitely by machines. But this unprecedented shift in end-of-life care has created a major crisis. In the widening grey zone between life and death, doctors fight with doctors, families feel pressured to make tough decisions about their loved ones, and lawyers are left to argue life-and-death cases in the courts. Meanwhile, intensive care patients are caught in purgatory, attached to machines and unable to speak for themselves.

In Death Interrupted, Dr. Blair Bigham seeks to help readers understand the options facing them at the end of their lives. Through conversations with end-of-life professionals ― including ethicists, social workers, and nurses and doctors who practise palliative care ― and observations from his own time working in ambulances, emergency rooms, and the ICU, Bigham exposes the tensions inherent in this new era of dying and answers the tough questions facing us all. Because now, for the first time in human history, we may be able to choose how our own story ends.

Bio

Blair is an award-winning journalist, scientist and physician who trained in emergency and critical care medicine at McMaster and Stanford Universities. He was a Global Journalism Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Associate Scientist at St Michael’s Hospital.  His work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, newscasts, podcasts and medical journals. He is co-host of the CMAJ Podcast and deputy editor at healthydebate.ca.

He witnesses the relationship between wealth and health on a daily basis, and reports on the undertold stories of patients, healthcare providers, and the systems that help or fail them.

His first book, Death Interrupted: How modern medicine is complicating the way we die became a national bestseller. His second book is scheduled to be released in September 2025.

Why I Write

Stories form the backbone of medicine. Every doctor must be a skilled listener, hearing narratives told by patients, teachers, and colleagues. A skilled doctor, though, can tell a story just as well. Communicating a cancer diagnosis and the painful road ahead, or engaging a sick patient to modify the lifestyle choices that are threatening their health, requires skillful oration, insightful angles, and respectful tones.

As a doctor, I hear stories every day; stories that I want to share. Many start tragically, have roller-coaster arcs, and end on a note of joy. Some end quickly; others drag on mercilessly. Most enrich my life, like the inspiring story of John, who’s impact I’ve written about on this blog. But other stories are heart-wrenching. At home and abroad, I have heard tales of injustice and misery.

I tell these stories, the good and the bad, to my colleagues every day. Some I share in blog posts or magazine articles, or on stage at conferences. Others I withhold, telling no one, afraid of judgment or criticism, hypothetical stones to be thrown at my authentic glass house.

These stories, of medical brilliance, medical hubris, and medical tragedy, need to be shared, not only in the halls of hospitals but with the public.  Some are directly relevant to everyday life. Others require spotlights to bring attention to injustice and misfortune. Some are just plain weird.

I hope you enjoy them.  Thanks for reading, and be well.

Write

Blair has written for several Canadian and International media outlets, including The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, CBC News, Maclean’s, TVO, VICE.com, STATnews, Quartz, the Walrus, and others.

His journalism credits includes political commentary, investigations, breaking news and features. His essays have appeared in medical journals such as the British Medical Journal and the Lancet.

He has appeared on several CBC Radio – Radio Canada programs as well as community radio and podcasts and he has produced stories for CBC’s The National.

He writes for the paramedic community at Canadian Paramedicine, EMS Magazine and EMSWorld.com

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Speak

Blair has been described as “one of the best young speakers in the field.”

He has delivered over 200 speeches and educational talks around the world on topics including:
<> medicine and the media
<> patient safety and just culture
<> wellness and resiliency for clinicians
<> occupational disease transmission
<> compassion and suffering

Past audiences include the United States Government, the American Heart Association, Italy Ministry of Health, University of Toronto, Fanshaw College, Dalhousie University, Lakeridge Health Corporation, Public Health Agency of Canada, Stanford University, University of Minnesota, Trillium Health Partners, and the University of Namibia.

Select speeches:

Keynote – Death Interrupted: how modern medicine is complicating the way we die

Duration: 30-60 minutes

Based on experience in the ER and ICU, Blair explored modern death in his book Death Interrupted. This engaging talk explores personal and societal values as we navigate our own ends in the face of ever-advancing technology in health care. While designed to save lives, these machines often prolong death without offering hope of recovery. Blair explores how families and doctors can collaborate to balance hope with uncertainty.

Medicine and the Media: How to Go Viral

There are unlimited stories in the medical field, and both broad and niche audiences desire them.  In this instructive talk, Blair outlines the algorithm for pitching great stories – stories that will go viral – and provides insight into what editors and journalists are seeking.

Keynote – On Suffering: When Physician Becomes Patient

Duration: 30-60 minutes

Using his experience as a patient in the emergency department, Blair shares his understanding of suffering, pain and compassion, in the funniest evidenced-based keynote you’ve ever seen.  Drawing on science to inform culture, Blair shares a real-world algorithm for overcoming burnout and making every patient feel cared for.

Keynote –  Cut the Bullsh*t and tell me what you really mean.

Duration:  variable

Human beings know a good story when they see one. So what’s holding us back from telling good stories? In this funny-yet-actionable conversation, Blair breaks down how risk-averse corporations miss out on opportunities to engage and inspire, and provides a prescription to get out in front and tell great stories boldly.