Death and Dying

Death typically refers to the end of life of a person or organism. The medical definition of death is when an individual has sustained either (1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or (2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including when the brainstem is dead. Dying, then, is the gradual cessation of existence or function in an individual. There is a large literature on death and dying in cisgender people. There is much less research on trans people’s experience of dying. For trans people, dying and death can take on more complex definitions and meanings. This entry explores some of the facets of death and dying in the trans community.

For cisgender individuals, the traditional challenges of end of life (EOL) ...