Articles on Death and dying

November 5, 2023

As a death doula and professor who teaches about dying, I see a need for more conversations about death

All of us face loss and the reality of our own mortality. Whether through in-person discussion or over social media, let’s build communities that support people navigating death and dying.

August 4, 2023

What actually is palliative care? And how is it different to end-of -life care?

Samar Aoun, The University of Western Australia

Palliative care is often seen as a ‘last resort’ rather than a service that empowers terminally ill people to live as well as possible for as long as possible.

October 24, 2022

Reflection Room: Exploring pandemic-related grief in long-term care homes

Celina Carter, University of Toronto; Barry Stephenson, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Elizabeth Kalles, University of Waterloo; Justine Giosa, University of Waterloo, and Paul Holyoke, University of Toronto

Reflection Rooms support people making sense of experiences related to dying and death. They provide an immersive space to read stories written by others and write and share their own stories.

January 10, 2022

End-of -life conversations can be hard, but your loved ones will thank you

When you prepare to talk about end-of-life decisions and the legacy you want to leave behind, try thinking about them as gifts you bestow to family and friends.

June 2, 2020

Dying virtually: Pandemic drives medically assisted deaths online

Terminally ill patients in nine states and Washington, DC can use telemedicine to get a doctor’s approval to hasten their end of life. But family members must mix the lethal drug cocktail themselves.

June 24, 2019

Not all Americans have a fair path to a good death – racial disparities are real

Jason Ashe, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Danielle L. Beatty Moody, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

There are many conversations these days around ‘successful dying.’ Two African American scholars argue why these conversations need to include race and how it impacts life span.

December 18, 2018

Not a season to be jolly: how to deal with dying during the holidays

The dying person may face an inner struggle. They may want to be involved in activities but may not have the physical and emotional capacity to deal with the heightened stress and stimulation.

May 1, 2018

Being clear about your last wishes can make death easier for you and loved ones

Lori A. Roscoe, University of South Florida

Few people like to talk about death, but research is suggesting that people should talk with loved ones about their wishes for their final days. You may be surprised which family member is most supportive.

November 14, 2017

Four reasons Victorian MPs say ‘no’ to assisted dying, and why they’re misleading

Lindy Willmott, Queensland University of Technology; Andrew McGee, Queensland University of Technology, and Ben White, Queensland University of Technology

The main arguments used by those who voted against assisted dying – including that the bill has insufficient safeguards – in Victoria’s upper house, deserve further scrutiny.

November 2, 2017

It’s not all about death: conversations with patients in palliative care

A palliative care doctor discusses his interactions with his patients: “I wouldn’t know what I would want were I in their shoes,” he says.

November 1, 2017

Five common myths about palliative care and what the science really says

Anna Collins, The University of Melbourne

Our study found people held narrow, often inaccurate and outdated understandings of palliative care.

November 1, 2017

What ancient cultures teach us about grief, mourning and continuity of life

Many in the Western world lack the explicit mourning rituals that help people deal with loss. On Day of the Dead, two scholars describe ancient mourning practices.

October 31, 2017

Looking after a dying loved one at home? Here’s what you need to know

Liz Forbat, Australian Catholic University

Here are some tips if you are looking after someone who is nearing the end of their life.

October 31, 2017

How Lincoln’s embrace of embalming birthed the American funeral industry

Dying in America 200 years ago was a simply family affair, devoid of pomp. The US Civil War and Abraham Lincoln’s embrace of embalming changed everything.

October 31, 2017

What Chinese philosophers can teach us about dealing with our own grief

The pain of grief is part of human existence. Daoist and Confucian philosophy can help find meaning in grief.

October 30, 2017

How the dead danced with the living in medieval society

For medieval cultures, the dying process and death itself was a ‘transition,’ not a rupture.

October 29, 2017

What is palliative care? A patient’s journey through the system

Matthew Grant, Monash University; Anna Collins, The University of Melbourne, and Jennifer Philip, The University of Melbourne

When a person has a serious illness, palliative care aims to improve that person’s quality of life.

October 27, 2017

Life after death: Americans are embracing new ways to leave their remains

Although ‘Game of Thrones’ -style funeral pyres are still out of bounds, Americans are increasingly turning to cheaper, greener and more meaningful ways to dispose of their loved ones’ bodies.

July 21, 2017

Victoria may soon have assisted dying laws for terminally ill patients

Ben White, Queensland University of Technology and Lindy Willmott, Queensland University of Technology

Public opinion, shifting views in the health profession and international trends allowing assisted dying mean it will be lawful in Australia at some point. But will it be lawful in Victoria soon?

February 9, 2017

Can a dying patient be a healthy person?

Just because a person is dying does not mean that he or she is in a state of panic. Here’s an example of how one woman, through a well-lived life, remained at peace as she faced death.

Related Topics

  1. All Souls' Day
  2. Death
  3. Death and Dying series
  4. End-of-life care
  5. Euthanasia
  6. Funerals
  7. Grief
  8. Palliative care
  9. Talking about death and dying
  10. Terminal illness

Top contributors

  1. Anna Collins Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne
  2. Tony Walter Professor Emeritus of Death Studies, University of Bath
  3. Matthew Grant Palliative Medicine Physician, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne
  4. Richard Gunderman Chancellor's Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University
  5. Lindy Willmott Professor of Law, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology
  6. Ben White Professor of End-of-Life Law and Regulation, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology
  7. Brian Walsh Assistant Professor of Communications, Elon University
  8. Liz Forbat Professor, University of Stirling
  9. Katherine Sleeman NIHR Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant in Palliative Medicine, King's College London
  10. James W Lynch Professor of Medicine, University of Florida
  11. Peter Martin. Palliative Care Physician, Barwon Health
  12. Daniel Wojcik Professor, English and Folklore Studies, University of Oregon
  13. Peter Saul Senior Specialist in Intensive Care and Head of Clinical Unit in Ethics and Health Law, University of Newcastle
  14. Charles Foster Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, University of Oxford
  15. Tanya D. Marsh Professor of Law, Wake Forest University