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The Legacy of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Ken Ross

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (EKR) was among the most important psychiatrists of the twentieth century. Current media reports on her legacy are often misrepresentative of her many contributions to a wide field within the medical world. Speaker, Ken Ross discusses the historical context of his mother’s inspirations and guiding principles that lead her to the field of end-of-life (EOL). Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ seminal 1969 work, On Death and Dying, opened the door to understanding individuals’ emotional experiences with serious illness and dying. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this seminal book. A review of the how the grief theory has come to dominate the medical worlds perspective of grief theory in this last half century. Further, the Five Stages of Grief™ has now been adopted to explain not only loss related to death but all sorts of loss including: divorce, job changes, and all major life changes. This recent adaption of the stage theory is known as well as the “Kübler-Ross Change Curve”. Audience members will expect to gain a better understanding of Kübler-Ross’ techniques and approaches to the dying. Discussions will include: hospice, palliative care, bioethics, and others. Many individuals working in EOL have a distorted conception of the Five Stages of Grief ™. Ross will explain EKR’s corrected and more comprehensive description of the stages of grief including more than ten stages she reported fifty years ago. Last, the speaker will discuss what it was like to take care of this famous caretaker for the last nine years of her life. The Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation currently continues the work of this ground-breaking pioneer in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. A short description of the Foundations effects around the world will be described.