Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Psychiatrist Who Revolutionized Care of Terminally Ill, Dies at 78 (Excerpts from the obituary, 8/26/04) Dr. Kübler-Ross was credited with helping end centuries-old taboos in Western culture against openly discussing and studying death. She also helped change the care of many terminally ill patients to make death less psychologically painful, not only for the dying, but also for their doctors and nurses - and not least for the survivors.Dr. Kübler-Ross was credited with helping end centuries-old taboos in Western culture against openly discussing and studying death. She also helped change the care of many terminally ill patients to make death less psychologically painful, not only for the dying, but also for their doctors and nurses - and not least for the survivors. ...she was appalled by what she called the routine neglect and abuse of dying patients. 1962 Her lectures began to draw standing-room-only audiences of medical and theology students, members of the clergy and social workers - but few doctors. From her patient interviews, Dr. Kübler-Ross identified the five now famous stages that many patients go through in confronting their deaths. Often, denial is the first stage. Anger...followed by a bargaining period. When the patient sees that bargaining will not work, depression often sets in. The final stage is acceptance, a period in which the patient is ready to let go. Not all dying patients follow the same progression, Dr. Kübler-Ross said, but most experience two or more stages. Another conclusion she reached was that the acceptance of death came most easily for people who could look back and feel that they had not wasted their lives. By HOLCOMB B. NOBLE Published: August 26, 2004 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.