Understanding near-death experiences

Near-death experiences (NDE) are often described in spiritual, personal or even supernatural terms. But a new CMAJ article offers physicians a clinical entry point into understanding them as a distinct phenomenon that patients may report after cardiac arrest, critical illness or other life-threatening events. Dr. Blair Bigham and Dr. Mojola Omole speak with Dr. Andrés Delgado-Ron, a senior data analyst at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and author of “Five things to know about near-death experiences”. He explains how NDEs differ from delirium or hallucinations, why they are often described as highly organized and vivid, and how veridical perceptions, where patients report details that can later be verified, raise important questions for researchers and clinicians. They also speak with Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova, research assistant professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioural science at the University of Virginia Division of Perceptual Studies, about how physicians respond when patients disclose these experiences. She explains why dismissive reactions can be harmful, how they may prevent patients from processing an event that feels profound, and why clinicians can validate the experience without needing to explain or endorse every aspect of it. For physicians, the message is practical: stay curious, listen without judgement and avoid automatically pathologizing or brushing aside a patient’s account. Patients may need space to talk about what happened, and clinicians can offer that space while still maintaining scientific rigour. Lancet article discussed. Comments or questions? Text us. Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something you'd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast. You can find Blair and Mojola on X @BlairBigham and @Drmojolaomole X (in English): @CMAJ X (en français): @JAMC Facebook Instagram: @CMAJ.ca The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions