Michael Sabom

Letters to the Editor: Embellishment of Near-Death Experiences

Journal of Near-Death Studies, 2008

In reading the Summer 2007 issue of the Journal of Near-Death Studies, I was especially taken wit... more In reading the Summer 2007 issue of the Journal of Near-Death Studies, I was especially taken with Keith Augustine's comments about embellishment of near-death experience (NDE) accounts (Augustine, 2007). He asked the same questions many of us in research do: Are narratives ever exaggerated, changed over time, or colored by the experiencer for any reason? Bruce Greyson (2007) found no significant difference with 72 experiencers who recently filled out an extensive survey report that they had previously done 20 years ago. His conclusion after comparing the two: "Memories of near-death experiences appear to be more stable than memories of other traumatic events" (Greyson, 2007, p. 410). In other words, there were no significant differences in the accounts as a result of time's passing. This agrees with what I have noticed in my research of near-death states, for the most part. Still, there are other reactions and responses experiencers exhibit that cause me to be careful in how I regard neardeath accounts initially. A rendering of what I have found follows. No Initial Disclosure After having interviewed nearly 4,000 adult and child experiencers, I can state that it is typical for near-death experiencers to withhold an initial reporting of what happened to them. Many are afraid to be so open, either because they fear being labeled crazy and made to face a psychiatrist, or because they are unsure how others might respond, so they keep it secret. Most, though, are so overwhelmed by what happened that they simply "do not have words" and struggle silently with the issue of belief: Can they trust what they experienced? Was it really, really real? Are they kidding themselves? How can it best be described? What can they make of it?

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Near-death experiences

PubMed, Sep 1, 1977

Letter to the Editor: Study of Perception in Autoscopic NDEs

Journal of Near-Death Studies, 2008

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The near-death experience: Myth or reality? A methodological approach

Journal of Near-Death Studies, 1981

Since the publication of Life After Life (Moody, 1975), numerous reports have confirmed the exist... more Since the publication of Life After Life (Moody, 1975), numerous reports have confirmed the existence and basic pattern of the neardeath experience (NDE) as described by the author of this book. Considerable controversy continues to exist, however, over the interpretation of these near-death accounts. A major portion of this controversy focuses upon one central question: Is the NDE an authentic experience? For the near-death survivor who has encountered an NDE, there is usually little doubt as to the reality of the experience: "That was real. If you want to, I'm perfectly willing for you to give me sodium pentathol. .. It's real as hell."1 For a large segment of the medical and scientific community, however, these experiences are felt to be mental aberrations provoked by the emotional and physiological stresses of the near-death condition: "People who undergo these 'death experiences' are suffering from a hypoxic state

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The Near-Death Experience

JAMA, Jul 4, 1980

To the Editor.— In a recent COMMENTARY (242:2291, 1979), Richard S. Blacher, MD, points out that ... more To the Editor.— In a recent COMMENTARY (242:2291, 1979), Richard S. Blacher, MD, points out that the &quot;life after life&quot; experience of the dying patient tells us nothing of the final state of death itself. Furthermore, he urges that misinterpretation of this experience could be avoided with a closer examination of the phenomenon. I have recently conducted a systematic investigation of these experiences in 107 persons known to have survived an episode of unconsciousness and near death (ie, cardiac arrest and coma). 1 Using standardized interview techniques, the social, religious, and demographic backgrounds of each person were evaluated along with the details of each medical crisis event and any possible recollections from the period of unconsciousness. Like Blacher, I have concluded that these experiences are not by themselves prima facie evidence of life after death. Thus, &quot;near-death experience&quot; (NDE) becomes an appropriate label. Furthermore, I concur that a closer examination

Circulation, 1979

Ergonovine has been shown to provoke attacks of variant angina, but a question remains whether sp... more Ergonovine has been shown to provoke attacks of variant angina, but a question remains whether spontaneous and ergonovine-induced attacks of variant angina are similar. Seven patients with variant angina undergoing cardiac catheterization were studied during transient episodes of spontaneous and ergonovine-induced rest angina with ST-segment elevation. Clinical, electrocardiographic, left ventricular hemodynamic and coronary angiographic observations were made before and repeated after ergonovine (0.05-0.2 mg I.V.). The character and duration of chest pain were similar during both spontaneous and ergonovine-induced episodes. ST-segment elevation (greater than 1 mm) was present inferiorly in three patients, anteriorly in three patients, and both inferiorly and anteriorly in one patient during both episodes. Mean heart rate and systolic arterial pressure changed little, while left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased significantly during spontaneous or ergonovine-induced attac...

format_quoteLeft ventricular end-diastolic pressure significantly increased during spontaneous and ergonovine-evoked angina compared to a pain-free baseline.format_quote

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Hemodynamic and myocardial metabolic effects of ergonovine in patients with chest pain

Circulation, 1978

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Effects of ergonovine in patients with and without coronary artery disease

Circulation, Nov 1, 1977

Recently, ergonovine has been suggested to evoke coronary artery spasm in patients with variant a... more Recently, ergonovine has been suggested to evoke coronary artery spasm in patients with variant angina. The purpose of our investigation was to study clinical, hemodynamic, electrocardiographic (ECG), and coronary angiographic effects of ergonovine in 60 selected patients undergoing angiography. The patients were equally divided, 30 with coronary artery disease (CAD), lesions 250%, and 30 with minimal (<50%) or no CAD. Ergonovine (0.05 to 0.4 mg i.v. bolus) was given while each patient was monitored for symptoms and changes in ECG, heart rate, QTc intervals, blood pressure, and coronary diameter. After ergonovine, 18 patients developed chest pain, eight of whom had associated STsegment shifts (>-I mm). Heart rate and QTc showed no significant change. Systolic blood pressure increased from 133 mm Hg (mean) to ERGONOVINE MALEATE, an ergot alkaloid, is a direct acting smooth muscle constrictor.'-4 Almost 30 years ago, ergonovine was introduced by Stein5 as a provocative test in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Several reports by Stein', 6 implied the ergonovine test may be clinically useful and safe, but interest waned. Renewed interest in the potential coronary actions of this agent developed following a recent preliminary report by Heupler and co-workers" suggesting that ergonovine may provoke attacks of "variant" angina. Additionally, new evidence by Maseri9' 10 and Weiner" now supports coronary arterial spasm as an important pathophysiologic mechanism in patients with variant angina and possibly in the production of myocardial ischemia in other patients. These reports stimulated us to examine the effects of ergonovine in patients with chest pain, since a provocative test to identify patients with coronary spasm would be clinically useful. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical, electrocardiographic, and coronary angiographic responses to ergonovine maleate in patients with and without angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease. Methods Studies were conducted in 60 patients (56 males and 4 females) with a mean age of 52 years (range 28-67) referred for cardiac catheterization studies to further evaluate a chest pain syndrome. Patients with recent myocardial infarction (less than 3 months), left main coronary obstruction (greater than 50%), aortic stenosis, or prior coronary revasculariza-From the

format_quoteErgonovine decreased mean coronary artery diameter by 18% (P < 0.001) and elicited ST-segment shifts in patients with variant angina.format_quote

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The experience of near death

Death Education, 1977

... No fear involved at all, in fact, I felt real peaceful.. .just as calm as all get out.. . ...... more ... No fear involved at all, in fact, I felt real peaceful.. .just as calm as all get out.. . ... It was like another world.. .it&#x27;s white with clouds and grass and beautiful trees.. .like this but a beautiful sunny day, but everything is so bright and clean. And everyone is so happy.. . ...

Commentary on ???The Reality of Death Experiences??? by Ernst Rodin

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, May 1, 1980

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Light and death

... right away. Darrell had suffered his eighth arrest. In the tiny Gardenia Room, Alison met wit... more

Clinical usefulness and safety of the ergonovine test in patients with chest pain

The American Journal of Cardiology, 1978

mwelve patients with end-stage congestive cardiomyopathy underwent a single crossover study of do... more mwelve patients with end-stage congestive cardiomyopathy underwent a single crossover study of dobutamine (Db) and dopamine (Dp)-24 hr IV infusion each-in order to compare their cardiovascular properties. Based on heart rate response (<20% increase over baseline) and ventricular irritability ((12 PVC's/min), the mean maintenance doses of Db and Dp were determined to be 7.1 and 4.0 mcg/kg/min. respectively. Measurements during control (C) and infusion periods included cardiac index (CI), left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and total systemic resistance (TSR). Upper extremity blood flow (UEF) by venous phlethysmography, hepatic blood flow (HBF) by indocyanine green clearance and renal blood flow (RBF) by PAH clearance were performed on 6 of the patients. Results: C Db C CI L/M2/min 2.43+.2 3.09&l+

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Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation

The American Journal of Nursing, 1982

... Recollections of death: A medical investigation. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Sabom,... more

Light & death : one doctor's fascinating account of near-death experiences

Light and Death

The Shadow of Death (Part One)

SYNOPSIS Considerable controversy has arisen over the causes and implications of the near-death e... more SYNOPSIS Considerable controversy has arisen over the causes and implications of the near-death experience (NDE). This controversy is fueled by the case of Pam Reynolds, who had an NDE during an operation in which her body temperature was dramatically lowered, the blood was drained from her head, and her brain had ceased to function. Was she dead or alive? Recent scientific research offers new insights into the question of when death occurs and what is experienced at or near death; nevertheless, the accuracy of purported “out-of-body” observations made while unconscious and without brain function is difficult to explain. Such findings challenge us to explain how an organized, coherent experience such as an NDE can arise in a disorganized or nonfunctioning brain. Perhaps science has missed a fundamental link between consciousness and the brain, or perhaps some experiences depend on the mind alone, which may not be inextricably bound up with the brain.

The near-death experience: Myth or reality? A methodological approach

Journal of Near-Death Studies, 1981

Since the publication of Life After Life (Moody, 1975), numerous reports have confirmed the exist... more Since the publication of Life After Life (Moody, 1975), numerous reports have confirmed the existence and basic pattern of the neardeath experience (NDE) as described by the author of this book. Considerable controversy continues to exist, however, over the interpretation of these near-death accounts. A major portion of this controversy focuses upon one central question: Is the NDE an authentic experience? For the near-death survivor who has encountered an NDE, there is usually little doubt as to the reality of the experience: "That was real. If you want to, I'm perfectly willing for you to give me sodium pentathol. .. It's real as hell."1 For a large segment of the medical and scientific community, however, these experiences are felt to be mental aberrations provoked by the emotional and physiological stresses of the near-death condition: "People who undergo these 'death experiences' are suffering from a hypoxic state

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The acute dying experience

Journal of Near-Death Studies

The acute dying experience (ADE) incorporates peritraumatic dissociation and hyperarousal (for ex... more The acute dying experience (ADE) incorporates peritraumatic dissociation and hyperarousal (for example, speeding thought, narrowing and sharpening of perception, and preparation for action) into an experiential continuum lasting seconds to minutes. It is instantly triggered by the sudden, clear perception of threat of significant injury and/or death and followed, at times, by physical trauma, physiological derangement, and loss of conscious ness. Peritraumatic dissociation was diagnosed in 83 percent of survivors of 52 life-threatening accidents. Depth of peritraumatic dissociation correlated positively with subject's severity of injury (p < .05), loss of consciousness (p < .05), perceived certainty of death (p = .055), and hospital treatment (p = .10). Eighty-four percent of injured subjects felt no immediate pain regardless of severity of injury. Absence of emotion accompanied minor injury; a feeling of peace predominated with more severe trauma. The ADE mirrors the three phase response of perception, defense, and recuperation observed during predator-prey interaction in animals. It appears to be an adaptive response that promotes survival by holding paralyzing emotions in abeyance, increasing mental alertness, and blocking disabling pain. Results from this and other studies show that paradoxically the more terrifying and traumatic an accident may appear, the more peaceful and painless it may actually be experienced.

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Commentary on "Does paranormal perception occur in near-death experiences?

Journal of Near-Death Studies

Keith Augustine raises questions regarding Pam Reynolds's near-death experience (NDE) while under... more Keith Augustine raises questions regarding Pam Reynolds's near-death experience (NDE) while undergoing cerebral aneurysm surgery using the hypothermic cardiac arrest ("standstill") procedure. I specifically address questions regarding anesthesia and brainstem auditory evoked response procedures; and the relation of Reynolds's NDE to "standstill" and life after death.

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Commentary on John Gibbs' "What do near-death experiencers and Jesus have in common? The near-death experience and Spong's new Christianity

Journal of Near-Death Studies

John Gibbs relates research findings on near-death experiences (NDEs) to John Shelby Spong's "con... more John Gibbs relates research findings on near-death experiences (NDEs) to John Shelby Spong's "continuity view of Jesus" and his "call for a new Christianity." Gibbs' argument falls short of demonstrating congruence of the scientific findings of NDE research with the theological claims of Spong, who posits that Jesus was not God, but just a person.

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