Ken Walker
The man known as W. Gifford-Jones, MD
Nobody could ever call him a conformist.
That trait of iconoclasm appeared when he was barely old enough to talk. For example, at three years of age he reproached a London Bobby, saying, “Don’t you talk to me that way!” when the officer scolded him for stepping off a curb. And later, at seven, when his mother scolded him, he promptly announced he was leaving home. Fortunately, he returned to tell her that he had decided “to give her a second chance”. When a high school teacher told him he would never make it to medical school, he decided to apply anyway, and ended up at the Harvard Medical School! So, it is no surprise to people who know him, that the good doctor has always set his own course.
Throughout his career he examined the well-worn path, but chose another when one was available. This is true of the medications he prescribed, the surgical practices he performed, his depth of care and concern in the examining room, the time and energy expended every evening to return to hospital to examine his post-surgical patients.
His newspaper columns, written weekly without interruption for nearly 50 years, are testament to his humanity and common sense. He cares, genuinely, about people and the world, and has tried his best to keep both safe, logical and secure.
Here are a few things you may be interested to know:
- He steps on a scale every day.
- He eats a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables.
- He is a big fan of fibre.
- He loves potatoes!
- He takes daily mega-doses of Vitamin C (10,000 mg) plus Lycine (5,000 mg) plus B-12.
- He drinks moderately – enjoying the health benefits and the social connectedness.
- He never takes over-the-counter painkillers or cold remedies, knowing that these and other medications can damage the liver and kidneys.
- He avoids radiation from unnecessary dental and chest x-rays as well as CT scans
- He just keeps going:
- He performed thousands of surgeries over the course of his career, and his steady hands and strong technique allowed him to continue operating into his 70s.
- He saw his last patient at the age of 87.
- He continues to write a weekly medical column to this day.
Read What People Have to Say
W. Gifford-Jones, MD receives thousands of letters every year from readers across North America.
Reader Mail on Therapy Animals
Reader Mail about Medical Asssistance in Dying
Reader Mail on the Rule of Law
Reader Mail on Eating Disorders
W. Gifford-Jones, MD – a lifetime of good health
In June, 2017, W. Gifford-Jones, MD rappelled down City Hall in Toronto to raise support for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. It is a breathtaking feat for anyone, let alone those in their 90s. If ever there was a testimonial for a lifetime of preventative medicine and healthy living, this is it. Watch the video!
The Gifford-Jones Philosophy
Dr. W. Gifford-Jones has a philosophy of healthy living, developed early in his professional career, and this has served as the foundation for his work. He says, there are just two ingredients to living a long and healthy life:
- Luck – We all must contend with the things we can’t control. A tragic accident. Cancer at an early age. The genetics and circumstances we inherit. Luck is not always fairly distributed.
- Good common sense – This is in limited supply, and the extent to which one makes use of it is directly proportional to living life to the longest extent with the best possible health.
His advice?
- “Don’t smoke.”
- “Drink moderately.”
- “Exercise.”
- “Eat a balanced diet.”
It’s straightforward. It’s not complicated. Yet, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones has seen too many individuals fail to heed this simple advice. “The problem,” he says, “is that common sense is an uncommon commodity.”
His long commitment to Vitamin C:
With the research work of two-time Nobel Prize winning Dr. Linus Pauling as his basis, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones has written about the health benefits of Vitamin C for decades. He interviewed Pauling decades ago, was convinced by the scientific evidence, and has always advocated for Vitamin C’s health benefits. But a heart attack at age 75 served as a catalyst for taking much higher daily doses. His doctors advised him to take cholesterol-lowering drugs. They added, if he didn’t do so, he would be dead in a year. Instead, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones looked to the natural solution offered by Vitamin C.
Natural medicine is a hallmark of his philosophy for a long, healthy life. Where there is a natural remedy, it is his preferred approach. He has never been a fan of the medical establishment, which he argues has too often gotten too close to the big pharma industry.
Dr. W. Gifford-Jones is a fighter for the causes he believes in. He has taken a stand on many controversial issues – often fighting for progressive causes such as the right of a woman to an abortion, the use of heroin for terminal cancer pain management, and medical assistance in dying.
For more information on his philosophy, read a sample of his related columns.
To learn more about his life, read his autobiography , “You’re Going To Do What?”
Read a Message from W. Gifford-Jones MD.
Read a Tribute to Susan.
The W. Gifford-Jones Living Will
The W. Gifford-Jones Living Will is document that is designed to assist you in achieving the end-of-life care that you desire for yourself. It is a written statement detailing your own personal desires regarding your medical treatment in circumstances where you are not able to express informed consent, and it is particularly important for those seeking the option of medically assisted death. A Living Will is not a legal document providing 100% certainty that medical assistance in dying will be available. But without it, there is close to 100% certainty you will have no control over your final days.
Remember, a Living Will is of no value if no one in the family is aware of it or where it is located. It’s also prudent to provide family members, your doctor and your lawyer with copies.
Equally vital is a discussion with all family members who will be responsible for making decisions about your medical care in the event you cannot do so. It requires only one family member to present obstacles to your wishes. Much better to know who agrees or disagrees, and to complete and reach consensus regarding your Living Will.
The W. Gifford-Jones Living Will is available here.
The Gifford-Jones Legacy to Humanity
Man said to the universe, “I exist.” The universe replied, “That may be so, but I have no sense of responsibility.” Shakespeare phrased it another way: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” Even Pogo, the cartoon character, got it right when he remarked, “We have identified the enemy and it is us.” Or, as Dr. W. Gifford-Jones has written, “If you keep going to hell, you’ll eventually get there.” The message to humanity is clear: We each must take responsibility for our own destiny, and a faulty lifestyle is no one’s fault but one’s own.
The Gifford-Jones Law states, “One disease leads to another and another and either kills or leads to a life of chronic disease.” In the past, most people died from infectious diseases. Today, it’s a totally different situation. Now, most people die from degenerative diseases where obesity leads to diabetes which leads to cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, so few people pay heed. We are architects of our own misfortune.
Science and new research discoveries will march on. Some medical expertise will become outdated. Yet, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones has made a long career of the simple truth. As sure as night follows day, common sense will prevail. The legacy to humanity of his lifetime’s work is that good health and longevity will ultimately depend on individual responsibility.
The W. Gifford-Jones Prize for Humanity
The W. Gifford-Jones Prize for Humanity is awarded annually to an individual, team or organization that, through dogged determination and adherence to good common sense, has made a substantive contribution to the longevity and good health of humankind.
The inaugural prize was conferred on January 23, 2019, in Toronto, Canada.
