With his most recent video, Moldovan physician Dr. Viktor Ivanovik—who has over 1M TikTok followers—sparked a major discussion about the possible risks of kissing departed loved ones goodbye.
With his most recent video, a Moldovan physician named Dr. Viktor Ivanovik—who has over 1M followers on TikTok—started a meaningful discussion on the possible risks associated with kissing departed loved ones goodbye.
According to Dr. Viktor Ivanovik, a corpse begins to disintegrate about nine hours after death, as germs from decaying tissues emerge. He warns that exposure to these microorganisms can be dangerous, often leading to a significant or even total loss of smell.
In his viral TikTok post titled “Never kiss the deceased!”, Dr. Ivanovik urged people to reconsider this emotional farewell tradition. His warning sparked strong reactions online. While many thanked him for shedding light on risks they had never considered, others shared deeply personal experiences of kissing loved ones one last time.
One user wrote, “I kissed my father and would do it a million times over! He is my father.” Another added, “Honestly, no one can resist kissing their parent on the hand or forehead one last time.” These responses highlight the complex tension between grief, cultural tradition, and health.
Dr. Ivanovik’s video has opened an important discussion about funeral customs and health risks. It underscores how social media can spread medical knowledge on sensitive subjects, while reminding people to balance cultural rituals with personal safety.
His message stands as both a medical warning and a compassionate reminder of the importance of self-protection during grief.
