Death is humanity's most repressed fear, an innate condition that modern culture has denied by embracing symbolic immortality. This repression has extended into medicine, where professionals shy away from the emotional and spiritual dimensions of dying, and the drive to prolong life has intensified. Research into psychedelic therapy for the terminally ill, which began in the 1950s and 1960s, was politically suppressed but has recently revived. The paper argues that death anxiety, being inherent to human existence, cannot be therapeutically cured. It questions how much of the ritual and spiritual context of ancient psychedelic use can be extracted and translated into modern medical language.
Palliative care for terminally ill patients in India is neglected, with few hospices and patients often dying in isolation and pain. Pain extends beyond the somatic to include loss of dignity, incontinence, disfigurement, and cognitive impairment. Family caregivers face financial crisis, professional disruption, and exhaustion, though some find spiritual catharsis. Anxiety, depression, and existential crisis are common but rarely addressed. Pain management remains undertreated despite options like opioids, nerve blocks, and alternative methods. Spiritual crisis is the most neglected aspect, influenced by religion, belief systems, and past mental illness. Effective communication between caregiver and dying is limited. A small study by Stanislav Grof showed beneficial effects of controlled LSD and psilocybin, and Aldous Huxley died peacefully with LSD, suggesting hallucinogens as an option alongside proven methods.