Ed Near Death Experiences - Seeing the present while pronounced "dead"

therival58

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therival58
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Hey all,

I was wondering - can anyone name a documented case where someone who experienced a NDE recall events that occurred during the time they were pronounced "dead" and confirmed by witnesses?

(For example: a patient is pronounced "dead", and during that time lets say a doctor/witness writes something on a board or performs an action and then when the patient is revived, recalls what was written or what action was done.)

The reason I bring this up is because NDEs are a very puzzling concept for me who no longer believes in an afterlife, and I recall hearing/watching a video in which the above occurred but the name escapes me.

I'm not sure if I articulated the question in the clearest way so if anyone needs a clarification on what I'm asking please let me know.

Thanks!
 
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Does it have to be a live person?

I only ask because there are probably a lot more that didn't survive -- just statistically, you'd expect more of the dead to have had visions like that.
 
therival58 said:
I was wondering - can anyone name a documented case where someone who experienced a NDE recall events that occurred during the time they were pronounced "dead" and confirmed by witnesses?
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The evidence, such as it is, is anecdotal. There have been a couple of attempts to gather scientific evidence which have so far shown nothing.

Here's a good summary: http://www.skepdic.com/nde.html
 
marplots said:
Does it have to be a live person?

I only ask because there are probably a lot more that didn't survive -- just statistically, you'd expect more of the dead to have had visions like that.
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But see, those people who didn't survive would not have had a "near death" experience would they? ;)
 
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therival58 said:
But see, those people who didn't survive would not have had a "near death" experience would they? ;)
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Well, they were probably near death before they died. On the other hand, I drive on the expressway, so I'm near death all the time. Sometimes, I'm just inches away. From my experience, "near death" includes a huge dose of adrenalin and some colorful language.

But while we are on the subject, has anyone had a "near birth" experience? I can't recall any.
 
Rasmus said:
No.

In fact, if you could get a reliable statement from a dead person, that would pretty much answer the question, wouldn't it?
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It's tough. From what I understand, you can use torture, but then you can't rely on the info you get. I suspect there's some kind of non-disclosure statement in effect -- "They tell no tales."
 
Rasmus said:
No.

In fact, if you could get a reliable statement from a dead person, that would pretty much answer the question, wouldn't it?
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marplots said:
It's tough. From what I understand, you can use torture, but then you can't rely on the info you get. I suspect there's some kind of non-disclosure statement in effect -- "They tell no tales."
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Don't try. It's like beating a....dead horse. :D
 
If you want to study "near-death" experiences, just smoke some DMT. The trip reports are practically identical to NDE reports.
 
Don't undertakers and grave diggers have constant near death experiences all the time??
Why hasn't any-one interviewed them ?
:)
 
Humor apart.

I wouldn't exactly categorize my own experience as near death; Nor would I advocate this as even proof of consciousness during coma.

I had a really bad motorcycle accident when I was young. I broke nearly every bone in the left side of my body.
I do not recall the accident, nor do I recall anything from that day at all.

I was comatose for 3 days. I had never been in that hospital, or any other medical facilty of any sort in that area.
When I woke up, the nurse was there. She was tending to the patient in the bed next to mine.
I asked as loud as I could, which hurt as hell as dry as my mouth was, for her to call Doctor Seebold.
She did exactly that.

I have always wondered how I knew the doctor's name at all. I never bothered to find out if he was my surgeon, attending doctor, or what exactly his involvement was with me during that time.
For all I know, during me awakening, I very well may have simply heard his name being called over the intercom/PA system. Did I hear the name in surgery or while comatose? Did I read his nameplate when he did his rounds?

/shrug.
No way of knowing.
And it doesn't bother me very much at all tbh.
 
Well, coma is pretty far different from NDE. There's pretty good evidence that people can still be aware, on some level, even in a coma (depending on how deep the coma is, etc). Most likely you heard the Doctor's name several times while you were out.

NDEs are said to occur not during coma, but during an actual death. Of course, it's always a bit fuzzy just what is meant by "dead"...as far as I know there is no clear definition. Most of these stories refer to cardiac arrest: a stopping of the heart. But that won't kill you for a bit. I don't know of any NDE that has been shown to occur during a time of brain death, for example. Plus, there's no reliable way to determine if, for example, a person's experience actually occurred during the "dead" time frame, or if it occurred before or after as the body was shuttinndown/starting up.
 
I believe up to 30% of NDEs have been found to occur when the person was actually not in danger of dying but may have thought they were.

I'm not sure the studies comparing various drugs to NDEs are saying that they are exactly the same, but rather that they share certain elements and may involve similar brain functions. Certainly more study is needed.

The AWARE study currently going on by Dr. Sam Parnia purports to be the largest and most comprehensive study of NDEs to date - will be interesting to see what the findings are.
 
Curious about something. I don't see why people would try to assume that NDE require a physical reality, obviously something is going on in the brain. Often there is this sense of "return" or revival, sometimes with a choice. I'm curious if this unusual reaction has to do with the brain choosing to shut down. Can the brain kill itself?

I'm curious if the brain can continue to "think" after the physical death of the body. How long does it exactly take for the brain to die.

Perhaps this NDE sensation is really the brain trying to figure out what to do?
 
Arouet said:
I believe up to 30% of NDEs have been found to occur when the person was actually not in danger of dying but may have thought they were.
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This is an important point. This is why I think you should only trust NDE's from those who died and remained dead. Barring that, it's just medical conjecture.
 
haha, sure, but there clearly is something interesting going on that's worth studyng. Parnia's study should add to our understanding of them, one way or another! Remember, its more than just seeing if people report seeing the signs he's placed over the hospital bed, he's also monitoring what is going on in the brain during the NDE- should be interesting, whatever he finds!
 
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