Caitlin Doughty

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Caitlin Doughty in red evergreen background
Caitlin Doughty
OccupationMortician, author, death positive advocate


Caitlin Doughty is a prominent figure in the field of death acceptance and mortuary science. She is a mortician, author, and death positive advocate known for her work in promoting open discussions about death and challenging societal taboos surrounding mortality.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Born in Hawaii, Caitlin Doughty developed an interest in death and funeral practices from a young age. This fascination with mortality eventually led her to pursue a career in the funeral industry.

Career[edit | edit source]

Doughty began her professional journey by working in a crematory and later as a funeral director. Her experiences in the industry inspired her to advocate for more transparent and compassionate approaches to death care. In 2011, she founded The Order of the Good Death, a collective of professionals working to change the way society views and interacts with death.

Writing[edit | edit source]

As an author, Doughty has written several books on death and funeral practices, including Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory and From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death. Her writing explores different cultural attitudes towards death and offers insights into how individuals can approach mortality with acceptance and dignity.

Death Positivity[edit | edit source]

Caitlin Doughty is a leading voice in the death positive movement, which aims to encourage open conversations about death and promote a more natural and respectful approach to end-of-life care. Through her advocacy work, Doughty seeks to empower individuals to confront their mortality and make informed decisions about their own funeral arrangements.

Public Speaking[edit | edit source]

In addition to her writing, Doughty is a sought-after public speaker who lectures on topics related to death acceptance, funeral practices, and the importance of embracing mortality. Her engaging and thought-provoking presentations have helped spark conversations about death and dying in communities around the world.

Personal Life[edit | edit source]

Outside of her professional endeavors, Caitlin Doughty is actively involved in various initiatives aimed at improving end-of-life care and promoting death awareness. She continues to be a vocal advocate for changing the way society engages with death and mourning.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD