THE DEATH OF THE FEAR OF DEATH; IMAGINING DEATH ABSENT FROM FEAR AND MEDICALIZATION THROUGH HOLISTIC APPROACH

Abstract

This paper examines how western society has managed death within the 20th and 21st century and how this management has affected our death and dying experiences. While the majority of western society wishes to die at home, more than half of Americans continue to die in a medical setting. By implementing a holistic approach to death and dying within the medical as well as encouraging honest conversation surrounding death and end of life experience, a "good death" can be achievable for westerners. Using secondary analysis, a literature review is conducted and broken up into three chapters focusing on the medicalization of death, the hospice and palliative care movement, and achieving a "good death" through a holistic approach. Reflecting on the collected secondary data, this paper analyses how medicalization has stripped an individual of their ability to achieved a good death and thus, an incorporation of holistic principles in death and dying are needed. This paper concludes with illustrating the importance of The Death Positive Movement, The Conversation Project and Death Cafes which work to encourage the acceptance of one's mortality and ultimately alleviate the fear of death. Keywords: "Good death", "Medicalization", "Medicalization of Death", "Death and Agency", "Fear of Death", "Fear and Dying", "Holistic Death", "Palliative Care", "Hospice Care", "Death Positive"