Category: Resources

In all modern societies across the world death takes on the form of a fetish. A so-called ‘natural’ death or, in other words, death by disease is the process we force on people because it has the status of being the ‘right thing’ to do. It conforms to the will of authorities both government and church and it conforms with the will of families.

While birth and marriage are discussed and dissected to the point of fetishisation, the final, inevitable life event gets much less airtime. We just try to avoid it for as long as possible. As our societies take us further and further away from the physical reality of death, a lucky…

How to go about holding difficult conversations about death and dying with family and friends Read how to do it here …

This updated version (of an October 2010 issues backgrounder) takes account of the recent introduction of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill in NSW. Recent cases in Australia are canvassed as are proposed reforms and recommendations in selected jurisdictions, notably South Australia, Tasmania and the United Kingdom. New sections…