Once regarded as taboo, it is now claimed that societies are death-obsessed. The face of death in the 21st century, brought about by cultural and demographic change and advances in medical technology, presents health and social care practitioners with new challenges and dilemmas. By focusing on predominant patterns of dying, global images of death, shifting boundaries between the public and the private, and cultural pluralism, the author looks at the way death is handled in contemporary society and the sensitive ethical and practical dilemmas facing nurses, social workers, doctors, and chaplains. This book explores key issues and dilemmas faced by professionals working with people who are dying or bereaved. It incorporates recent case studies into an exploration of the meanings and shape of holistic and integrated care.