Forensic Tanatology integrates one of the branches of Legal Medicine related to scientific aspects with death, its signs and its nature. Although death being a natural phenomenon has implications in the legal and social sphere, but it has always been an enigma in Western culture. The objective is to discuss the theme tanatology under three points of reflection: cut out from the perspective of the philosophers of antiquity who worked most on this theme, the vision of death in the West narrated

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... the French historian Philippe Ariés and how Legal Medicine and Law has worked this theme in professional practice. This is a review study of the specialized literature. Being demonstrated as Medical-Legal and Law Tanatology contribute to these reflections, as well as in the definition and concept of death, however, it was the philosophers from Plato (428-347 a. C.) and historians that this theme has been addressed in several respects. It is concluded that the way in which to deal with this theme has been transformed over time. Today, the phenomenon of death is medicalized, hospitalized, distanced from the family, society and even academic training. Although Legal Medicine and Law are intrinsically associated disciplines, the theme is still far from both teaching and professional practice. Evidence demonstrating the need to rediscuss the theme in the training of medical and law professionals.