A final kiss on the forehead, cheek, or lips often feels like the most sacred way to say goodbye. For many, it’s a gesture of love, closure, and connection. Yet under certain circumstances, this intimate act carries hidden medical risks.Dr. Viktor Ivanovik, a Moldovan physician whose TikTok advice stirred international debate, reminds us: sometimes love must be shown from a safe distance.
His caution is not about fear, but about protection—for the living who remain.While the risk is uncommon, infections can, in rare cases, pass from the deceased to the living. Pathogens such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, and even certain hemorrhagic fevers can survive in bodily fluids for hours or days after death.
This is why health authorities urge caution, particularly when the death was caused by a contagious disease or during times of outbreak.But avoiding a kiss does not mean forgoing a farewell. Experts suggest safe and symbolic alternatives: placing a flower in their hands, whispering words of love, tucking a note into their casket, or lighting a candle in their honor.
These rituals carry profound meaning, offering both respect and closure without the risk of transmission.Ultimately, what defines a goodbye is not the touch of lips against skin, but the love we continue to hold. Memories, traditions, and the ways we live out their legacy are the true final gestures—the ones that endure long after parting.