Professionals who study death and dying are called what?

• A. Educational thanatologists
• B. Thanatologists
• C. Research thanatologists
• D. Clinical thanatologists

Answer: (B)

Thanatology is the study of death and dying, including how people die, the dying process, and the experience of grief and bereavement. A person who studies or works in this field is called a thanatologist. The term comes from Greek thanatos (death) and -logy (study). Because the field is interdisciplinary, a thanatologist may come from healthcare, psychology, sociology, anthropology, or theology, among others, but the professional title itself remains thanatologist. The other options describe subareas or contexts (educational, research, clinical) rather than the general label for the profession. So, the best term is thanatologist.