Wow! Although I’ve been interested in death care, its high costs, including personal, resource-based, and financial for years, I hadn’t realized how wide the “gray area” has become – the situation where a person will not regain consciousness, awareness, and “personhood” but yet is not legally dead.

This book lays it all out – how things used to be in rural Nova Scotia, to how they are in Toronto and Los Angeles, and how one gets into this “gray area” and how difficult it is for anyone to get them out, and very rarely any sort of recovery. It is partly a result of doctors having “imposter syndrome” plus a “do everything” attitude fearing they missed something, their family having been trained through TV medical dramas that “modern medicine can bring them back”, and people just not talking about death. Few people are present at another person’s death. Few people have advance directives.

Death has changed from 80 years ago when it was easy for a country doctor, such as in the author’s native rural Nova Scotia, to determine death. When the person had no pulse and no breath, they were dead. The doctor made out a death certificate and a funeral was planned. Now, especially if near an urban hospitals, but even ambulances have technological equipment such as defibrillators and ventilators, plus training in modern techniques such as CPR, to keep the person alive until they get to the hospital. But, what then?

Sadly, once someone has been resuscitated they are unlikely to return to the life they had previously. In uncomfortably-many cases, the person is left in a “gray area” – not meeting criteria for being legally dead, but dependent upon technological support from machines and never gaining consciousness to interact with their environment or other people. This comes at great cost – financial, emotional, and legal – sometimes with the medical team and various family members at odds over what to do. The worst outcome is if a court decides. This whole problem breaks up families and leads to distrust of the medical system and its individual members.

To avoid this situation in your own life, it is very important to talk about death – with your friends, your family, your doctor, and your attorney well before it’s immanent. Many people won’t want to because it’s “morbid”, or even misconstruing instigating a talk about death as “knowing something” or even having thoughts of self harm. The less we talk about it, the more of us will spend our end days at the mercy of technology, being neither alive nor dead.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of Death Interrupted. The way modern medicine disrupts our ability to die a natural death is not a comfortable topic, but Blair Bigham approaches the topic with grace and intention. I would strongly recommend this work as required reading for anyone considering a career in grief support, death, dying, or even through life coaching. This work is very very important, and I'm so grateful it's been written.

Blair Bigham’s DEATH INTERRUPTED is a fascinating exploration of death in the modern age. Part medical history, part ethical discussion, part religious discourse, part personal experience, this book examines all facets of the “death dilemma” (as Bigham calls it). Bigham examines medical death and individual definitions of death across the world, including his own Canadian experience, which is often lost in non-fiction of this kind.

A must read for those who work in the critical care field of medicine, those who examine the experience of death and dying, or those who have an interest in the sociology of medicine.

Thank you NetGalley and House of Anansi Press Inc for an eARC of the book.

How do you want to die? The irony of medicine now is that the advanced treatment we have for medical conditions, may often make the act of dying more complicated. We often try to extend life and there are many more treatments than ever for chronic conditions, but to continue to embark on treatments, and to continue to resuscitate people, is that merely just extending suffering? This author, Blair Bingham has a unique perspective on the issue of dying and using life saving measures as he started his career as a paramedic, and later became a doctor. As Blair says, “like it or not, everyone you know will die. You will die. I will die.” This book really makes you think about this issue in an objective way. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

An important and timely read. Death Interrupted is a recommended purchase for most collections and would pair well with The Last Doctor.

Thank you for the ARC copy of this book. I don’t read non fiction books as often as other books however I really enjoyed death interrupted. This book was very informative and makes the reader think more about death in the modern day world. Currently I work in the medical field in a non clinical format but both of my parents work as clinical staff so the discussion around death in the medical field is not new to me. However this book really provided a lot more details and perspectives I had not come across yet. It was interesting to see the different perspectives of a variety of health care workers that Dr. Brigham interviewed. I will definitely be suggesting this book to others as well as having more conversations about the topic in general with people.

As one who has been in the field a long time (greater than 20 years), I applaud Blair Bigham’s courage to pen this contemplative look at what modern medicine has done to the death and dying process. No one wants their loved ones to die. Yet, as Blair so blatantly puts it “like it or not, everyone you know will die. You will die. I will die. And it’s time we stop pretending this isn’t the case.” Life in the hospital is not like it is portrayed on TV; at all. These are hard conversations to have with patients and their loved ones. Just because we can keep someone alive, the question begs the asking, should we? Ultimately, at what cost? I love that Blair took the time to have in-depth conversations with people from all perspectives. Things are not always so black and white, and this is expressed beautifully in this book. Blair speaks from experience as a paramedic and then an ICU physician, where life-saving measures and priorities shift between paradigms. Whatever your views or beliefs, this is great book to get you thinking and to invite the conversation with others. It is necessary for health care providers to act ethically with the knowledge, resources, and skills we have been gifted with.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

"Mors Vincit Omnia. Death Conquers All."

This was such an incredible read. We as a society have in a contradictory way, have tried to actively avoid the topic and concept of death, while at the same time being almost morbidly obsessed with it.

We'll watch tv shows where a new character dies every episode (looking at you GOT), and listen to true crime podcasts that go over the nitty, gritty, horrid details of death and murder without blinking an eye. Yet when it comes to our own mortality, or the mortality of those we love, we turn squeamish and turn any adjacent conversations into a full 180.

Blair Bingham sums this up pretty concisely with the quote "Like it or not, everyone you know will die. You will die. I will die. And its time we stop pretending that isn't the case." Through careers as both a paramedic and ER doctor, Bingham has come across hundreds of thousands of cases of death, from considerably 'normal' and 'expected' deaths, to those more shadowed in grey.

Though medicine in some form has been around for centuries, 'modern' medicine has bridged a gap that some argue should never have been bridged. Machines, technology and medicine have become so advanced that we can now keep someone alive, even if they aren't really 'living'. But with that power, how do you determine exactly when someone is truly 'dead' and how can you be expected to make that call, when there might be a chance that they could live?

Even if you're not familiar with medicine or think of death as a more taboo subject, this book is definitely worth the read. Bingham relays medicinal history (both old and new) and speaks on each side in an objective and compassionate voice, prompting thoughts and emotions that might not have been realized otherwise.

"Alive and dead aren't black and white. It's not binary, at least not anymore."

Death Interrupted is set to be published on September 20, 2022. Thank you to House of Anansi Press, The Walrus Books, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC.

Publish date: September 20, 2022

WOW! This was an AMAZING book. The main premise is: are extraordinary measures to keep someone alive really the best thing for the patient? Blair Bingham, the author, talks about his first-hand experience with this topic as both a hospital physician and an EMT—which turns out have vastly different philosophies about keeping patients alive. Dr. Bingham talks with experts from many fields, including various medical doctors, death historians, religious leaders, and regular citizens with death experience. We learn a lot of medical history about life-saving tools like CPR and ventilators—this part was so cool! We learn about lots of cases of patients who have survived or died after extraordinary measures were taken to save their lives, and Dr. Bingham wonders with us: were the measures in the best interest of the patient? Did the medical team do more harm than good?

The writing was very casual and unpretentious and it felt like I was having a conversation with a friend. The author was unbiased and we learn from people on both sides of this argument. As I read the book, I really thought and debated with myself about the ideas of death and life support. Sometimes I wholeheartedly agreed with the author, other times I was completely against what he was saying. I think the latter is because in the beginning there was not a very good distinction made between life-saving measures that would almost always save the patient and measures that would just prolong suffering, but it was made later in the book. This was my only complaint, and I wish Dr. Bingham had talked about this earlier. I learned a LOT from this book and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations we had with experts. It’s one of those rare books that is fun to read, makes you really think about ethics, and leaves you debating even after you are done. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to Anasi Press and Netgalley for an eARC of the book!

This book will make you think long and hard about your final wishes. The author explains why death and dying is such a taboo subject, how technology is making us think that we should live forever, and continually reminds us that “mors vincit omnia” (which means Death Conquers All in Latin). Bigham shows his compassion in every chapter, as he explores the new frontiers of end-of-life care and human euthanasia.
Years ago, our life expectancy was a lot shorter than it is now. Families were used to each other dying at home in their own beds. As they were forced to confront their mortality in a very tangible way, there were no taboos surrounding death. It was, quite literally, a major part of their lives. Since our life expectancy has increased, and there is so much innovative technology such as ventilators and ECMO machines that can prolong life, we are determined to avoid death for as long as we can. Every medical show on TV shows doctors snatching patients out of the jaws of death via “code blue” situations and miracles. The author describes this equation: technology X (resuscitation glorification + death denialism) = FALSE HOPE. We come to a hospital armed with the belief that recovery is imminent, therefore there is no reason to consider end-of-life planning or care.
Despite the leaps and bounds made by new medical technology, doctors hesitate to rely on machines sometimes. Airline pilots are taught to trust their instruments completely; after all, when they can’t see out of the plane’s window, they fly using the altimeter, directional gyro, and other instruments that let them know how fast and high they are going. In the medical world, things are different. A patient on a respirator is not guaranteed to wake up and resume his normal life. Transplanted organs may be rejected. And thereby lies the “death dilemma”. When is it time to pull the plug? Who decides to sentence their loved ones to the Great Beyond? Why don’t doctors talk honestly about death and dying, or palliative care? We all want the kitchen sink thrown at our mom or brother, in hopes that they will be with us longer, having cheated death.
But that is not always possible, or even desired. Those who stipulate “no feeding tube” or choose to be a DNR are choosing control over their own death, relieving the family countless hours of arguing, or wondering what Dad would really want done in case of mortal injuries or sickness. The author discusses ethics, communication, and myths surrounding death, to enlighten us and understand the predicament our doctors are in. There is a chapter on euthanasia and on cryogenics. There are conversations with scientists and ethicists who find the death dilemma fascinating. There are stories about real patients who lived against all odds, and others who died despite hours long codes and hundreds of pints of blood pumped into their bodies. Bigham provokes the reader to truly confront their own fears about death, suffering, and not being able to go peacefully, on their own terms.
I find the death dilemma very fascinating and have read extensively on this subject (as I have mentioned multiple times in my reviews, I wanted to be a mortician when I was deciding my path through life). DEATH INTERRUPTED is one of the best books I have read on this subject. The author shows his human side through his compassion and quest to make every one of his patients have the best death possible. His writing is not too technical or difficult to understand, and he tries to show the pros and cons of prolonging life for distinct reasons. I am happy to report that I also learned some new things, such as the various “types” of death (brain-dead, suspension to keep organs alive for donation, and dead-dead) and the problems doctors face before they are able to declare one dead.
If you are wondering why you would need to make a living will or are putting off thinking about a morbid subject like your own death, please read this book. You will be shocked, saddened, scared, and motivated to consider your own end-of-life wishes. Many thanks to Blair Bigham for bringing this subject to the forefront in a new and stimulating way.

Thank you to House of Anansi Press and The Walrus Books for the ARC.

Death Interrupted is a critical care doctor's quest to reconcile the role of advancements in medical technology in today's world; examining their invention and integration into the critical care scene, as well as their unintended consequences. And the book is indeed unflinching in examining those consquences, bringing light to the reality that "surviving" certainly does not mean "living."

Dr. Bigham sheds light on the gray area between life and death, where patients may be kept alive thanks to machines that can maintain relatives stasis for their organs, the very things that make them human are lost. Along the way, Dr. Bigham covers long term acute care hospitals, DNRs/healthcare proxies/POAs, "slow codes," euthanasia, and the effect that insurance companies have on the ethics of all of this. It can be a bit of a meandering journey at times, reflective of the mental journey Dr. Bigham describes undertaking over the course of his career.

It's a fascinating deep dive into medicine, technology, bioethics, and the nature of life and death. I appreciate Dr. Bigham's honesty in exploring the topics that are so often shied away from until it's too late. He covers things that are controversial in terms of ethics (slow codes, etc.), providing insight as to differences between his native Canada and the U.S. healthcare system. He also touches on the importance of advance directives and the right to have a dignified death.

Overall, the book is a serious call to reconsider what it truly means to "do no harm;" a question that certainly must be continuously considered in the ever changing landscape of medicine.