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4457
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Liester, Mitchell B., Journal of Near-Death Studies, Vol 16, Inner Communications Following NDEs, Ms. C first NDE, Pages 240-241, 1998
Journal of Near-Death Studies Vol 16 1998
1973
1998
6
F
Ms. C, a 6-year-old girl, was admitted for exploratory surgery to investigate a 60 percent hearing loss in her right ear. A critical medical error occurred when a nurse administered preoperative injections of Demerol and Valium but failed to document this in the chart. Upon arrival in the operating room, a second dose of the same medications was administered. Despite the child's attempt to alert the doctor about the double dosing, she was already too sedated to speak coherently. As the anesthesia mask was placed for general anesthesia, she went into cardiac arrest from the medication overdose.
During the cardiac arrest, Ms. C experienced leaving her body and observed her EKG flatline. She watched from above as the operating room staff began resuscitation efforts on her physical body. Her first thought was concern that her mother would be angry with the medical staff. Immediately upon having this thought, she found herself in the hospital waiting room with her mother. There she witnessed a man enter and inform her mother: "We've got a problem. She had a cardiac arrest." This observation of events in a distant location while clinically dead represents significant veridical perception. The child observed the entire resuscitation process from outside her body, maintaining clear consciousness and awareness throughout. She was able to see the medical team's efforts, the flat EKG line indicating cardiac arrest, and retained detailed memories of the experience. The ability to accurately observe and later report events occurring in both the operating room and the waiting room while in cardiac arrest provides strong evidence of consciousness existing independently of brain function. Following successful resuscitation, Ms. C awoke with immediate access to an inner voice or presence she could communicate with. This voice felt completely natural to her and provided a teaching, parental, and authoritative quality. For years she did not realize this inner communication was unusual, as it felt so normal to her experience. The medical error that precipitated this NDE resulted in a profound spiritual opening that would shape the rest of her life.
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Hospital
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37
Moderate Evidence
12
Documented cardiac arrest with EKG flatline in operating room
Verified distant observation of mother being informed in waiting room
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7/21/2025
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