The experience of near death

Abstract Reported phenomena occurring in people encountering near-death situations have recently stimulated considerable public interest. In an informal survey, few professionals who care for critically ill patients were found to be aware of these occurrences. Approximately 50 patients with documented near-fatal encounters were interviewed to confirm the existence and nature of these phenomena; 11 patients had definite recollections, while unconscious, of either viewing their body from a detached position of height several feet above the ground (autoscopy) or of “traveling” into another region or dimension (transcendence). No adequate medical explanation of these findings is presently available. We hope that a greater awareness and acceptance of these phenomena by health care professionals will both benefit the patient involved and lead to a greater insight into the poorly understood subject.