Why Death Has Become a Taboo Topic

During the conversation, McFadden and Dr. Rajan discussed how attitudes toward death have evolved over time, leading to the topic becoming almost taboo in many modern societies.

She explained that while medical advancements have allowed people to live longer, they have also made death feel more distant—which, in turn, has made it harder for people to accept.

“People were dying in the home and their families were caring for them,” she said.

“I just think it was more in our face. It was our responsibility to care for our dying versus taking them to the hospital.”

McFadden believes that death should be a more open conversation—something we gradually become more comfortable with.

“It takes some time to get used to,” she said, “but [it would] make us a little more comfortable being around death and dying.”