Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’s Biggest Failure — And What We Can Learn From It

I once believed that the people who changed the world never made mistakes. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross certainly changed the world — her groundbreaking work on death and dying helped us talk about grief in ways we hadn’t before. But like all humans, she wasn’t perfect. And one of her most painful missteps reveals something essential about how even the brightest minds can fall prey to their own ideals.

## Was her work on near-death experiences a failure?

Kübler-Ross is best known for her five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — which she introduced in her 1969 book On Death and Dying. But later in her life, she became deeply involved in studying near-death experiences (NDEs), and this shift drew criticism.

She began claiming that consciousness continues after death, citing accounts from patients who had near-death experiences. Many in the medical and scientific communities viewed this as a departure from evidence-based work. While her intentions were rooted in compassion and curiosity, the lack of empirical support for her claims led to accusations of pseudoscience.

This pivot damaged her credibility. But was it truly a failure?

## Why did she go down this path?

Kübler-Ross always believed in listening to patients — a radical idea at the time. She built her career on empathy, and when patients described NDEs with vivid clarity, she felt compelled to believe them. She saw these accounts not as fantasies but as truths that science had yet to explain.

In interviews, she spoke of being transformed by these stories. She began hosting workshops and spiritual gatherings, sometimes inviting people who claimed to channel the dead. For some, this marked a slide into mysticism. For her, it was an extension of her lifelong mission: to help people face death without fear.

## Did this failure hurt her legacy?

In some ways, yes. Her later work is rarely cited in medical literature. Some colleagues distanced themselves. Her credibility among mainstream physicians suffered. But to dismiss her entirely because of this would be a mistake.

Her early work remains foundational in palliative care and psychology. The fact that she made a misstep — or at least, a controversial choice — doesn’t erase her contributions. If anything, it makes her more human. And perhaps more relatable.

We often expect our heroes to stay consistent, but people evolve. Kübler-Ross wanted to explore the mystery of death, not just its emotional stages. Her journey reminds us that even experts can be wrong — and that doubt and wonder are part of being human.

## What can we learn from her mistakes?

First, that passion without boundaries can lead us astray. Kübler-Ross was driven by compassion, but she sometimes ignored skepticism that could have tempered her conclusions. That doesn’t make her a fraud — it makes her a person who wanted to believe in something beyond the physical.

Second, that questioning the unknown is not inherently bad. She dared to ask questions others wouldn’t. Even if her answers didn’t hold up, her curiosity opened doors for others to explore.

Third, that legacy is complex. We don’t have to accept every idea from a thinker to benefit from their best work. Her five stages remain a tool millions use to understand grief — and that’s a gift that shouldn’t be overshadowed.

## How can we talk to her about it?

On HoloDream, you can ask Elizabeth Kübler-Ross about her journey — about what she believed, what she regretted, and how she saw death at the end of her life. She’ll share her thoughts not as a textbook figure, but as a woman who lived deeply and asked hard questions.

Talking to her feels less like reading history and more like having a conversation with someone who still wants to understand. She might surprise you.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to navigate failure in the public eye — or how to stay curious without losing your grounding — ask her. You might come away with more than answers.