This is part of FJN’s Topic Briefs for Journalists series.
View COVERING NDEs main page
Key Researchers
International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS)
Dr Pim van Lommel: Dutch cardiologist and author of ‘Consciousness beyond life’ who has studied the experiences of cardiac arrest patients for more than 20 years.
Dr Sam Parnia: Associate Professor at NYU Medical Center and author of “Lucid Dying: The New Science Revolutionizing How We Understand Life and Death“, “The Lazarus Effect: The Science That is Rewriting the Boundaries Between Life and Death” and “What Happens When We Die? A Ground-Breaking Study into the Nature of Life and Death“.
Dr Peter Fenwick: (contact via ) Emeritus neuropsychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital London, past president of the Scientific & Medical Network, author of “The Art of Dying“.
Dr Bruce Greyson: Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, has studied NDEs for 45 years. Author of “After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond“.
Dr Penny Sartori: Awarded a PhD for NDE studies while working as an intensive care nurse. She now writes and speaks about NDEs.
Resources & Publications
Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) sponsored an essay competition in 2021 for the best evidence for continued consciousness after death. The 29 winning essays are here.
“Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience” by Pim van Lommel (2011)
“After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond” by Bruce Greyson, M.D. (2022)
“Surviving Death: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for an Afterlife” by Leslie Kean (2018). Note: A Netflix series of the same name was released in 2021.
“No One Really Dies: 25 Reasons to Believe in an Afterlife” by Michael Tymn (2021)
“The Transformative Power of Near-Death Experiences” by Dr Penny Sartori and Kelly Walsh (2017)
Sources from this FJN Topic Brief package on NDEs
Fenwick, P., & Fenwick, E. (2008). The Art of Dying. Bloomsbury Continuum.
Moody, R. (1975). Life After Life: The Investigation of a Phenomenon – Survival of
Bodily Death. Mockingbird Books.
References
NOTE: Some of these references are behind a paywall. Journalists who are members of the ABSW (Association of British Science Writers) or who have accounts with Eurekalert may be able to access them free of charge.
Bernat, J., & Delmonico, F. (2019). Restoring Activity of Pig Brain Cells After Death
Does not Invalidate the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria or Undermine the Propriety of Organ Donation After Death. Transplantation, 103(7), 1295-1297. https://doi.org/10.1097/TP.0000000000002782
BMJ-editorial. (2003). Rapid Response: The Near-Death Experience research: time to shake the foundations?. British Medical Journal, 326:288. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7383.288
Broome, K. (2002). The Day I Died (Documentary) [Video]. https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/day-i-died/; BBC Bristol.
Greyson, B. (2003). Incidence and correlates of near-death experiences in a cardiac care unit. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry, 25(4), 269-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0163-8343(03)00042-2
Grigg, M., Kelly, M., Celesia, G., Ghobrial, M., & Ross, E. (1987). Arch. Neurol., 44(9), 948-954. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1987.00520210048018 JNDS. (1988).
Journal of Near-Death Studies (JNDS). International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS). https://iands.org/research/publications/journal-of-near-death-studies.html.
Lang, C. (1989). EEG activity after brain death?. Arch. Neurol., 46(6), 602. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1989.00520420020007
Parnia, S., Waller, D., Yeates, R., & Fenwick, P. (2001). A qualitative and quantitative study of the incidence, features and aetiology of near death experiences in cardiac arrest survivors. Resuscitation, 48(2), 149-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0300-9572(00)00328-2 55
Renz, M., Reichmuth, O., Bueche, D., Traichel, B., Mao, M., Cerny, T., & Strasser, F. (2018). Fear, Pain, Denial, and Spiritual Experiences in Dying Processes. Am. J. Hosp. Palliat. Care, 35(3), 478-491. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909117725271
Sabom, M. (1982). Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (1st ed.). Harper & Row.
Sartori, P., Badham, P., & Fenwick, P. (2006). Prospectively Studied Near-Death Experience with Corroborated Out-of-Body Perceptions and Unexplained Healing. The Journal of Near-Death Studies (JNDS), 25(2), 69–84.
Schwaninger, J., Eisenberg, P., Schechtman, K., & Weiss, A. (2002). A Prospective Analysis of Near-Death Experiences in Cardiac Arrest Patients. Journal of Near Death Studies, 20(4), 215-232.
Stub, D., & Nichol, G. (2012). Hospital care after resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the emperor’s new clothes? Resuscitation, 83(7), 793-794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2012.03.034
van Lommel, P. (2011) Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience. HarperOne
Compiled by Martin Redfern for FJN
