Why do some doctors advise against kissing a deceased loved one?

The evolution of this debate highlights a broader shift in how modern society views death. In previous centuries, death occurred in the home, and family members were intimately involved in washing and preparing the body. There was a higher level of “death literacy” and a natural acceptance of the body’s post-mortem state. Today, death has been largely institutionalized and sanitized, moved behind the curtains of hospitals and funeral parlors. When a doctor suddenly brings up the “danger” of a farewell kiss, it feels jarring because we have become distanced from the physical realities of mortality.

As we move forward, the goal is not to eliminate these sacred traditions out of fear, but to empower people with the knowledge to perform them safely. Awareness of hygiene does not have to strip a moment of its sanctity. A final kiss can still be a profound act of love, even if it is done with the understanding of the life—and the microscopic life—that remains. The heart requires closure, and the body requires protection; finding the balance between the two is the true work of mourning in the modern age. By acknowledging the science without dismissing the soul, we can ensure that our final goodbyes are as safe as they are meaningful.