2008 Terzani Prize for the Humanization of Medicine, Daniela Muggia specialized in Thanatology with Cesare Boni at the University of Naples Federico II. She has been studying the Tibetan tradition for nearly 40 years and, over the past 15 years, has focused on neuroscience research related to practitioners of this tradition.
With over 30 years of experience alongside terminally ill patients, she developed the ECEL Method (Empathic Care of the End of Life), which integrates techniques for cultivating empathy—ethically oriented toward compassion and largely derived from Tibetan thanatology—with the latest scientific discoveries.
The goal of ECEL is to establish a new professional role to complement healthcare providers in care settings such as hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes. The entire study program is offered by the Università Popolare In Corde Scientia in Turin and is accredited by the Piedmont Region for Continuing Medical Education (CME).
In 2013, a second-level Master’s program in Pedagogy and Thanatology at the University of Rome 3 was dedicated to this method. Daniela Muggia is frequently invited to contribute to university-level palliative care programs.
She is the co-founder and Honorary President of the Tonglen ODV Association in Turin, which provides this type of accompaniment. With Tonglen and other partners, she initiated support projects during the pandemic, such as the SOS Chat for Those Left Behind, offering free assistance to those dealing with the challenges of COVID-related bereavement.
She has authored three books:
- Giù le mani da Pierino – Empathic Accompaniment for Children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), co-written with psychiatrist Emilia Costa
- Tenersi per zampa fino alla fine – Palliative Medicine and Empathic Accompaniment for Animals at the End of Life, co-written with veterinarian Stefano Cattinelli
- Di morte non si muore (You Don’t Die from Death), a compilation of four years of thanatological research on non-local consciousness, published in 2022 by Amrita (also the publisher of her previous books).
She gives courses and lectures in four languages across Europe and beyond. www.danielamuggia.it
