#death-industry

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France politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Lebanese forced to bury their dead twice as war robs them of final goodbyes

War in Lebanon disrupts traditional funeral rites, forcing families to bury loved ones in temporary graveyards far from their hometowns.
#grief
fromIndependent
3 days ago
Fundraising

Modern Morals: My brother hasn't paid me back for my mum's funeral and it's brought up old feelings about him

Mental health
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

We Are Never Alone in Our Grief

Grief feels profoundly isolating, yet communal support, empathy, practical care, and shared remembrance connect bereaved individuals and relieve suffering.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Advice From Those Who Are Grieving

Acknowledging a grieving person's pain and talking about their loved one strengthens connection and provides comfort, building resilience through community support.
fromIndependent
3 days ago
Fundraising

Modern Morals: My brother hasn't paid me back for my mum's funeral and it's brought up old feelings about him

NYC parents
fromNew York Post
3 days ago

NY funeral parlor of horrors named 'Camelot' stacked decaying bodies like cargo while ripping off grieving family members: AG

A New York funeral home operated illegally, mishandling bodies and overcharging families, leading to a criminal indictment against its owner.
#reproductive-rights
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 days ago

It makes me feel sick': Man whose grandmother's body was kept at bogus funeral home

The Independent provides critical journalism on key issues without paywalls, emphasizing the importance of accessible reporting.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 days ago

The hundreds of victims of crooked funeral director Robert Bush

The Independent provides crucial journalism on pressing issues, emphasizing the importance of accessible reporting and community support.
#death
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
4 days ago

Talking About Death: The Depth of the Meaning of Life

Death is a certain aspect of life that is often uncomfortable to discuss, yet it shapes our relationships and understanding of existence.
fromAeon
2 months ago
Philosophy

Dying to be green: are new eco funerals a false promise? | Aeon Essays

Traditional burial and cremation significantly harm the environment, prompting development of ecological alternatives such as tree burial, human composting, and microbial transformation.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
4 days ago

Talking About Death: The Depth of the Meaning of Life

Death is a certain aspect of life that is often uncomfortable to discuss, yet it shapes our relationships and understanding of existence.
fromAeon
2 months ago
Philosophy

Dying to be green: are new eco funerals a false promise? | Aeon Essays

London politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 days ago

Funeral director admits preventing 30 burials and stealing donations from mourners

A fraudulent funeral director pleaded guilty to multiple counts of preventing lawful burials and fraud involving ashes and charity theft.
OMG science
fromwww.bbc.com
5 days ago

The man who wants to bring human composting to the UK

A campaigner aims to introduce human composting in the UK as an alternative to traditional burial and cremation.
Design
fromArchDaily
6 days ago

Cities of the Dead: 10 Projects Exploring Burial Architecture

Cemeteries reflect cultural attitudes towards death, embodying social and political significance through their design and organization.
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

China to ban storing remains of dead in bone ash apartments'

The new law will prohibit the use of residential housing specifically for the purpose of storing cremated remains and the burial of corpses or construction of tombs in areas other than public cemeteries.
World news
fromSlate Magazine
1 week ago

The Baby's Heart Stopped. One Phrase Has Stuck With Me for Years Since.

There is a piece of advice given to doctors in moments like this: Check your own pulse. Each person in the room has a role, and we perform it best with steady hands and measured voices.
Medicine
Public health
fromwww.npr.org
1 week ago

'What if I die first?' Making a plan is key for family caregivers. Here's how

Family caregivers for adults with disabilities worry most about the future and lack of planning for care after their own death.
London politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 days ago

Man admits preventing lawful burial in relation to 30 bodies found at Hull funeral home

A funeral director admitted to preventing lawful burials after 30 bodies and ashes were found at a Hull funeral home.
Canada news
fromThe Walrus
1 week ago

The Doctor Behind One of Canada's First MAID Deaths Speaks Out | The Walrus

In 2024, Canada recorded 16,499 medically assisted deaths, with Quebec having the highest rate globally, constituting 36.3% of such deaths in the country.
fromAxios
1 week ago

Death Cafe: Why strangers are talking about dying over tea

"A Death Cafe is not 'a grief group, a counseling session, or a place to push religious or other spiritual agendas,' Leija says."
Online Community Development
Cancer
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

I have stage four cancer there will be no cure, but death isn't necessarily imminent: this is how it feels to live in the long middle

Stage four lung cancer transforms breath into a finite currency, dictating daily life and relationships amidst medical advancements that extend survival.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
2 weeks ago

I asked 11 hospice nurses what dying people talk about in their final weeks and not one mentioned career achievements. Every single answer pointed to the same category of regret, and it had nothing to do with what they did or didn't accomplish. - Silicon Canals

Dying patients consistently regret unrepaired relationships and missed connections rather than professional achievements, revealing a fundamental misalignment between what modern life optimizes for and what ultimately matters.
Arts
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Almost human': life-size replicas of the dead help mend broken hearts in India

A Kolkata workshop creates lifesize replicas of deceased loved ones using clay, fiberglass, and silicon, helping families process grief by keeping realistic figures of the dead in their homes.
fromLos Angeles Times
2 weeks ago

Family sues L.A. mortuary over 'grotesque' embalming, claims decayed body oozed liquid

The body was visibly deteriorated and was observed discharging liquids from the facial area throughout the entire duration of the viewing and wake. The family was horrified and devastated by what they witnessed.
SF parents
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Colorado funeral home owner given 18-year sentence in decaying bodies case

A Colorado funeral home owner was sentenced to 18 years for defrauding families of over $130,000, providing concrete-filled urns instead of cremains, and mishandling nearly 200 decomposing bodies.
Philosophy
fromIndependent
3 weeks ago

Lorraine Courtney: It's time to ban eulogies outright - funerals are not an open-mic night

Eulogies should be excluded from requiem masses to preserve the centuries-old ritual, with personal remembrances reserved for wakes instead.
Medicine
fromBuzzFeed
3 weeks ago

Hospital Workers Are Revealing The Heartbreaking Regrets Patients Had On Their Deathbeds, And Wow

Healthcare workers witness profound deathbed regrets centered on lost relationships, unresolved conflicts, and time wasted on non-essential pursuits rather than loved ones.
fromThe Art Newspaper - International art news and events
3 weeks ago

Mummies and other human remains held in UK museums raise serious ethical questions, warn scholars

The significant number of ancestors held in UK museums is extremely distressing and symbolic of the colonial origins of these collections. We hope that the responses gathered by The Guardian will be shared with the relevant communities to support them in bringing their ancestors home.
London
fromIndependent
4 weeks ago

On death and dying: 'You could tell that Mammy's soul had left her body because she didn't look the same. It shocked me'

When Dympna Little lost her beloved mother Lily Little to ovarian cancer in December 2024, it was her online community - she posts comedy videos as @dimplestilskin on Instagram and TikTok - who provided unexpected support and understanding of the experience of grief.
Social media marketing
London politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Graves in England and Wales could be reused after 100 years

The Law Commission proposes modernizing England and Wales burial laws by allowing grave reuse after 100 years, reopening closed burial grounds, and establishing national standards for the first time in over 170 years.
#assisted-dying
Public health
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Do Not Go Gentle by Kathleen Stock review the case against euthanasia

Philosopher Kathleen Stock argues against state-sanctioned assisted dying, warning that institutionalizing death through protocols inevitably leads to expanded eligibility and potential abuse.
Environment
fromMail Online
1 month ago

'Boil in a bag' funerals come to Britain: Scotland approves technique

Scotland introduces alkaline hydrolysis, an eco-friendly funeral method that dissolves bodies into sterile liquid flushed down drains, marking the first UK adoption since cremation's 1885 introduction.
Public health
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 weeks ago

A death scholar on why we need to stop being naive about dying: I always hear, Can't you just put me into a nice meadow?'

Australia will experience peak death around 2040 as baby boomers age, doubling annual death rates and straining healthcare systems, while end-of-life control and autonomy become increasingly valued among those with resources.
UK news
fromMail Online
4 weeks ago

Death of traditional funeral: Brits ditch burials and cremations

UK residents increasingly choose eco-friendly burial alternatives like green burials, aquamation, artificial reefs, and space burial over traditional casket burials and cremations.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
4 weeks ago

Who Will You Call When the Worst Happens?

Intentionally cultivating and maintaining friendships is essential because you cannot predict when you will urgently need someone to rely on.
fromPsychology Today
4 weeks ago

The Good Deaths of People Who Never Marry

People who had never married 'generally fared as well as, if not better than, married persons.' They also found that people who had no children were no different from parents in the quality of their life in their last month.
Mental health
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

'My daughter died in her sleep, with no warning'

We feel robbed. Nicola was handling her epilepsy, taking her medication which was reviewed periodically but she nor us knew anything about sudden unexpected death. Because of this they had become 'too complacent' about the illness and the family would have been more wary if they had been made aware of the risk of SUDEP.
Public health
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
23 years ago

When to Raise the Issue of Death

California sellers must disclose deaths occurring on property within three years; deaths older than three years generally don't require disclosure, though recent deaths remain a legal gray area.
Parenting
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I was the primary caregiver for my mother until she died. The responsibilities didn't end with her death.

Caregiving extends beyond a person's lifetime through managing their memory, finances, and legacy with the same dignity and respect shown during their life.
Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Scotland becomes first UK country to legalise water cremations

Scotland legalized hydrolysis, an environmentally sustainable funeral method using alkaline solution to decompose bodies, becoming the first UK region to offer this alternative to cremation and burial.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
4 weeks ago

Covid-19 pandemic victims remembered days after inquiry hearings close

The Independent maintains independent journalism without paywalls while covering critical issues like reproductive rights, climate change, and tech accountability, supported by reader donations.
Relationships
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Miss Manners: Am I misunderstanding the rules of what to wear to a funeral?

Funeral dress codes have relaxed; all black is no longer mandatory, and subdued colors or church attire are now acceptable regardless of relationship to the deceased.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

How could assisted dying laws change across the UK?

Jersey, Scotland, and England are voting on separate assisted dying bills with varying timelines and safeguards, while Isle of Man's passed legislation faces UK Ministry of Justice concerns over insufficient protections.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

My Dying Husband Has One Final Wish. I Don't Think I Can Give Him That.

An 80-year-old couple faces conflicting priorities: one spouse wants expensive international travel for end-of-life experiences while the other prioritizes financial reserves for anticipated long-term care costs.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Colorado funeral home owner sentenced to 40 years for abusing 189 bodies

A Colorado funeral home owner concealed 189 decomposing bodies, provided fake ashes to families, and was sentenced to 40 years for corpse abuse driven by greed.
#pet-loss
Careers
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Experience: I'm Britain's best gravedigger

A gravedigger finds meaning and peace in preparing natural burials, treating each grave with care and helping bodies return to nature.
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Post-mortem service in 'crisis', causing delays to funerals of more than a week

Grieving families are increasingly having to delay burying relatives because of hold-ups in carrying out post-mortems in multiple counties. The post-mortems, ordered by coroners to find cause of death, are resulting in funerals taking place later than wished, with delays of several days or more than a week in some parts of the country, adding to the distress of the bereaved.
UK news
Philosophy
fromThe Conversation
2 months ago

The hidden power of grief rituals

Funeral rituals mobilize substantial resources and communal participation, creating intense shared grief and strong social bonds across personal and national communities.
fromDeconstructing Yourself
1 month ago

Stay with the Grief

Today I saw images of students leaving their school with their hands raised in the air, hours after cowering in fear and terror in barricaded classrooms. Nine dead and twenty-seven wounded in the tiny Rocky Mountain town of Tumbler Ridge. The mayor, Darryl Krakowka, said, "I have lived here for 18 years. I probably know every one of the victims." And this in Canada, which often seems to us Americans like a bastion of sanity and normalcy in comparison with our madness.
Mindfulness
Mental health
fromenglish.elpais.com
1 month ago

Surviving the suicide of a loved one: The unspoken grief

Survivors of suicide face unique, protracted grief characterized by overwhelming guilt, shame from societal myths, intense loneliness, and limited social recognition.
World news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

I want people to be warned': son forced to remove tubes from father's septic body after death in Bali hospital

A Balinese hospital forced a son to remove life-support and bodily tubes from his dead father within two hours amid unsanitary conditions and suspected sepsis.
Miscellaneous
fromIrish Independent
2 months ago

'The staff in the ICU couldn't look at us' - Mother of woman fatally injured by horse after verdict of medical misadventure

A 25-year-old hairdresser from Co Longford died after being crushed during a veterinary examination; family settled actions and Midland Hospital apologized for care failures.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Grieving Loss When There's No Clean Goodbye

Ambiguous loss is an unresolved physical or psychological absence that creates chronic uncertainty, frozen grief, and blocked meaning-making by denying clear rituals or closure.
Medicine
fromHarvard Gazette
2 months ago

It's time to get more comfortable with talking about dying - Harvard Gazette

Most Americans want to talk about death but feel uncomfortable; growing post‑pandemic conversations and palliative resources can improve end‑of‑life communication.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Did She Die the Way They Say?

Psychological autopsy clarifies equivocal manners of death but lacks standardized protocols, challenging reliability; qualitative forensic mental-state assessments deserve standing.
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

No-one knows what to expect when you're dying - but hospices helped me

I think everybody worries when they come to the last stages, no one knows what to expect, but these people are wonderful at relaxing you and they help you an awful lot.
Public health
fromMedscape
2 months ago

Is Assisted Death Always Peaceful? We Simply Don't Know

For decades, the gold standard for the coma-induction phase of euthanasia was thiopental. It was swift, reliable, and highly concentrated and rapidly induced a deep coma. In 2011, however, the European Union banned the export of drugs used for capital punishment, including thiopental. In the wake of the ban, manufacturers withdrew or tightly controlled supplies to avoid association with executions, making the drug increasingly difficult to obtain. "Thiopental is very difficult to get now," Horikx said.
Medicine
Public health
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

4 in 5 Americans expected to choose cremation by 2045 - Silicon Canals

Cremation has become the majority U.S. end-of-life choice (63.4%) and is projected to reach 82.3% by 2045, signaling a major funeral-practice shift.
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Dying With Dignity

Dying with dignity enables individuals to control when, how, and where they die, prioritizing autonomy, informed consent, and minimizing suffering.
Public health
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

Parents to open 'virtual hospice' after unit shuts

Families of seriously ill children in east London are establishing East London Hospice to provide home-based 'virtual hospice' care after Richard House's closure.
Medicine
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

Why Autopsies Are in Decline and Why it Matters

Autopsy rates in U.S. hospitals fell from about 50% in the 1950s to single digits today, diminishing crucial medical knowledge and closure for families.
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

'Hospital's neglect in my son's death has ripped our hearts out'

Peter Dervin had spent all day by his son's side in Broomfield Hospital before he decided to get dinner. He pleaded with staff at the Essex facility not to leave his eldest child, Greg, alone in his absence. "They almost laughed at me and said, 'This is what we do. We're nurses and we look after patients'," Dervin recalls. Greg had been given lorazepam, an anxiety drug flagged by clinicians as leaving him prone to becoming unsteady and agitated.
UK news
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Spotlighting Caregiver's Day for Familes That Experienced Parental Death

February 20 is National Caregivers Day, celebrating caregivers everywhere, whether they are friends, professional caregivers, or family members, for the hard physical and emotional work they do that often goes unseen. Caregivers also include surviving parents trying to navigate their grief after the death of their spouse, while also supporting children who are trying to navigate their grief from the death of their parent.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Why the Grief Ripples So Deeply When an Advocate Dies

'They're dead.' In disbelief, my response was unfiltered. 'What?' Followed by the F word. A wave of emotion rushed through me. My chest tightened. My body went cold. I could not immediately find the words to offer condolences, not because I did not feel them deeply, but because inside, my many parts were experiencing a collective shock. When you live with dissociative identity disorder (DID), news like this does not land in one place. It ricochets across all parts within.
Mental health
Public health
fromIndependent
2 months ago

'It was just so sad, going in to give birth to a baby that is no longer alive. Everything was just so painful'

Parents who lost baby Odhrán at 22 weeks could not register his death because it was classified as a miscarriage.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Finding Help Following Suicide or an Attempt

Survivors of suicide face severe trauma, guilt, and isolation, and support groups and crisis centers offering grief counseling are critical yet often scarce.
Public health
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

This hospice has a bold new mission: saving lives

A hospice in eastern Uganda expanded into cervical and breast cancer screening, treatment, and HPV vaccination outreach, detecting precancerous lesions and reaching tens of thousands.
Public health
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Why are fewer people donating their organs?

Organ transplant demand in the UK has risen to over 8,000 waiting patients while donor consent rates have stagnated and family vetoes increasingly block donations.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

I heard the news on the radio: my parents and sister had died in a helicopter crash. How would I survive their sudden loss?

I am lying in bed listening to the radio at my boarding school as my roommate is getting dressed. As she walks out of the door she says, See you at breakfast don't be late. I'm about to get up when the early morning news comes on the radio, and I hear the announcer saying my parents' names. By the time my roommate arrives at breakfast, everyone has heard.
Mental health
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

Overcoming Grief Through Ritual

When we think of rituals, we tend to think of face masks and wellness trends. But there are actually ways to use rituals to help heal grief and deal with stressful times. On this episode, Lucy Lopez, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen are joined by ritual expert Betty Ray to talk about creative ways to help children process grief and big emotions, how to use ritual to create safety and expression, and much more.
Mental health
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