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TED Talks Daily

What happens as we die? | Kathryn Mannix

Dec 16, 2023
Kathryn Mannix, a palliative care expert with extensive experience witnessing thousands of deaths, shares profound insights into the dying process. She emphasizes the importance of demystifying death and confronting cultural fears surrounding it. Mannix discusses how death can be likened to childbirth, urging open conversations about our final moments. She highlights the physiological changes individuals experience, helping families understand the serene nature of the process. By fostering awareness, she advocates for meaningful discussions about mortality.
15:02

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Understanding the process of dying can alleviate fears and provide insight into the natural stages of dying.
  • Modern medicine has led to a loss of practical wisdom about death, shifting the focus from acceptance to prolonging life at all costs.

Deep dives

Understanding the Process of Dying

Catherine Mannix, a palliative care consultant, emphasizes the importance of understanding the process of dying. She notes that while modern medicine has made significant progress in saving lives, it has also led to a loss of practical wisdom about what happens as people approach death. Mannix argues that everyone should have knowledge and awareness about dying, just as we do about birth. By describing the patterns and stages of ordinary dying to dying individuals, it can alleviate their fears and provide insight into the process. Mannix believes that reclaiming this lost wisdom is a social and public health issue that requires all of us to step up and reclaim the understanding of dying.

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