Robert Twycross (1941 – 2024)
We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Robert Twycross, the groundbreaking joint founding author of Palliative Care Formulary and joint founder of Palliativedrugs.com. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Deidre and to the rest of the family as well as Robert’s many friends and colleagues across the globe.
Robert achieved a landmark distinguished career in Palliative Care, supporting and championing the profession for over 50 years. Graduating from Oxford University Medical School with a BMBCh in 1965 and then attaining his MRCP, he went to work under Dame Cicely Saunders in 1971, as Clinical Research Fellow at St Christopher’s Hospice. He was awarded the Oxford University higher degree of Doctor of Medicine for his subsequent work into the efficacy of the ‘Brompton Cocktail’ which led to its quick demise and adoption of a more rational approach to cancer pain management.
Awarded a wealth of honours including Life Memberships and Lifetime Achievement awards, Robert continued to inspire and inform the profession in the UK and internationally in over 50 countries. As director of the WHO’s Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care for 17 years, Robert dedicated significant energy to teaching and mentoring palliative care professionals around the world, particularly in Argentina, Hungary, India, Poland and Russia. Most recently he was actively authoring papers in support of palliative care and engaged in preparation for the upcoming seventh edition of Introducing Palliative Care, a publication he founded in 1995 to introduce the essential aspects of palliative care.
Robert has been instrumental in helping to open up the field of pain medicine, palliative care and research and we will miss his unwavering support and dedication to improving knowledge in this specialist area.
