Should You Really Never Kiss a Dead Person? Separating Viral Fear From Medical Fact
A photograph of a man kissing a deceased loved one in a casket, overlaid with the headline "Doctor explains why you should never kiss a deceased person," has spread widely across social media. The claim behind it originates from a viral TikTok video by a Moldovan physician with over 1.2 million followers, who warned that dangerous bacteria begin growing on corpses just nine hours after death and that contact could cause loss of smell and cardio-respiratory problems. The warning sparked heated debate online, but medical experts and major health organizations have pushed back strongly, calling the claims exaggerated and unscientific.
The Viral Warning That Started the Debate
The controversy traces back to Dr. Viktor Ivanovik, a Moldovan physician with over 1.2 million TikTok followers, who posted a video titled "Never kiss a dead person!" He claimed that bacteria released after nine hours could cause loss of smell and other health problems, advising people to avoid kissing the deceased, especially in summer or in uncooled rooms. He suggested that kissing might only be safe in an air-conditioned morgue at an appropriate temperature .
The video went viral, dividing social media users. Some expressed fear, while many grieving families reacted with anger. As one user replied: "I kissed my father, and I would do it a million times more! I can even lose my taste and smell, he's my father!" .
What Medical Experts Actually Say
Dr. Stuart Fischer, a New York-based internist with over 45 years of experience, declared Ivanovik's claims "nonsensical" and "simply not possible" given the human body's immune defenses. He used a vivid analogy: "In any given person, there are many different types of good bacteria, but they all serve a purpose. It would be like having 100,000 secret service agents to guard someone. In other words, the bacteria would be outnumbered, and they would die quickly because of the immune system of the supposedly newly infected person" .
Fischer also questioned the logic of the claim: "How come I've never heard of this before in my life as a physician for 45 years? That means that the loved ones would die or be hospitalized within a day or two. I don't believe it's happening" .
The World Health Organization (WHO) agrees. In a joint statement with the Red Cross, WHO confirmed that "contrary to common belief, there is no evidence that corpses pose a risk of epidemic disease after a natural disaster." The organization emphasized that "most agents do not survive long in the human body after death" and that human remains only pose a substantial risk in rare cases, such as deaths from cholera or hemorrhagic fevers .
The Exceptions That Do Exist
While the general risk is extremely low, certain specific situations do warrant caution.
Highly Infectious Diseases: The WHO notes exceptions for deaths from Ebola, Marburg virus, or cholera, where the risk of disease transmission from dead bodies exists. In these cases, special precautions are necessary .
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): The CDC identifies this rare brain disease as requiring special handling. If someone died from CJD and underwent an autopsy, family members should avoid touching or kissing the deceased .
Chemical Reactions: A documented case involved a 48-year-old woman who kissed her boyfriend's body at his funeral and later developed a severe skin reaction. Medical tests revealed she had an allergic reaction to formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve bodies, rather than an infectious agent .
Water Contamination: The WHO notes that dead bodies near water sources can contaminate drinking water through leaked faeces, causing diarrheal illness. This is a water-safety issue, not a direct-contact risk .
The Problem With the Viral Doctor's Credentials
Multiple media outlets attempted to verify Ivanovik's medical credentials but could not find any record in public medical registries in the US or Europe . While verification of foreign credentials can be challenging, the lack of any verifiable background raises concerns about the reliability of his advice.
Additionally, Fischer noted that Ivanovik's video "did not take into account the professional manner in which bodies are preserved for funerals in modern times," where funeral directors account for health considerations .
Cultural and Emotional Perspectives
For many families, kissing a deceased loved one is a deeply meaningful act of farewell rooted in cultural and religious tradition. In Islam, kissing the face of the deceased is permitted, based on the Prophet Muhammad's example. In Judaism, practices vary, with some authorities forbidding it as ritual impurity and others allowing it for close relatives.
The emotional weight of this gesture is immense. As one social media user put it: "Honestly, I don't think anyone can resist kissing their parent on the hand or forehead, one last time. It's hard when you break up with someone you love. For example, a child, mother, father, brother, etc. Maybe you're right, scientifically, but, in such a situation, it's hard" .
Practical Guidance
Medical experts suggest that for natural deaths where the body has been professionally prepared, the infection risk is negligible. Basic precautions like washing hands afterward are sufficient. For those concerned about risks but still wanting a meaningful goodbye, alternatives include placing flowers on the loved one's hands, lighting memorial candles, or writing letters—acts that can be deeply meaningful without direct contact .
The consensus from medical professionals is clear: the viral warning is vastly exaggerated. As Fischer summarized, if saying goodbye with a kiss brings a grieving relative comfort, there is nothing medically wrong with doing so. The decision remains personal, and fear should not override the human need for closure.
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