If people really knew what they were getting into with their third chemotherapy treatment, or getting a pacemaker when they're 92, if they really knew what that was going to mean, they might say no, and we should give them that information. Caitlin Doughty chemotherapygiveinformation share on social
Death in its natural state can be very beautiful. When you think about a body that's died of natural causes - family taking care of it - all of that is very beautiful. Caitlin Doughty beautifulbodycare Change image and share on social
Ever since childhood, when I found out that the ultimate fate for all humans was death, sheer terror and morbid curiosity had been fighting for supremacy in my mind. Caitlin Doughty childhoodcuriositydeath Change image and share on social
For thousands of years, we did have death surrounding us, and we did have people die in the home. You would take care of your own end. You would do ritual processes, and you would be involved in it, and that's been taken away in the Western world. Caitlin Doughty caredeathdie share on social
One of the things that was most shocking to me about starting to work in the funeral industry is just how industrial the environment is. Caitlin Doughty environmentfuneralindustrial Change image and share on social
All the body wants to do biologically is decompose. Once you die, it's, 'Let me out here! I'm ready to shoot my atoms back into the universe!' Caitlin Doughty atombackbiologically Change image and share on social
I work with a group called Compassion & Choices in California. It's attempting to get death with dignity legalised in California, the idea being that so goes California, so goes the rest of the U.S., at least. Caitlin Doughty attemptcaliforniacall share on social
Accepting your own mortality is like eating your vegetables: You may not want to do it, but it's good for you. Caitlin Doughty accepteatgood Change image and share on social
The death industry markets caskets and embalming under the rubric of helping bodies look 'natural,' but our current death customs are as natural as training majestic creatures like bears and elephants to dance in cute little outfits, or erecting replicas of the Eiffel Tower and Venetian canals in the middle of the harsh American desert. Caitlin Doughty americanbearbody share on social
The definition of 'morbid' is an unhealthy preoccupation with death. Unfortunately, there's no word to mean the perfectly healthy preoccupation with death, which is what I have. Caitlin Doughty deathdefinitionhealthy Change image and share on social