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4556
qualitative
journal
Greyson, Bruce. "Near-Death Experiences and Spirituality." Zygon 41, no. 2 (June 2006): 393-414. Case: 26-year-old woman, pulmonary embolism.
Zygon, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 393-414, 2006
1985
2006
26
F
A 26-year-old woman suffering from a pulmonary embolism experienced a dramatic separation from her physical body during the medical crisis. She described how her consciousness - which she identified as "the real me, the soul, the spirit, or whatever" - drifted out of her body and hovered near the ceiling of the hospital room. From this elevated vantage point, she had a clear view of all the activity taking place below.
The hospital room was to her right and below as she observed from above. She watched with confusion as doctors and nurses urgently worked on the body they had lifted onto the bed, showing great concern for what she now recognized as merely her physical form. Looking at her own body from this external perspective, she felt complete detachment - it meant nothing to her. She tried to communicate with the medical staff, attempting to tell them that she was not in the body they were so frantically trying to save, but they could not hear her. One of the most remarkable aspects of her experience was the dramatic enhancement of her hearing ability. Her auditory perception became extraordinarily acute, allowing her to hear numerous comments about the gravity of her medical situation. Most remarkably, she could clearly hear conversations from the nurses' station located many yards away from her room. She listened to specific comments from the medical staff about her condition while watching them work on her body. As she observed the hospital personnel's urgent efforts and listened to their concerned comments, she began to feel sorry for them. They were working so hard to save her body, yet she felt completely happy and free of pain in her elevated state. The contrast between her peaceful, pain-free consciousness floating above and the intensive medical efforts below created a profound sense of the separation between physical and spiritual existence.
5
Hospital
5
10
18
Suggestive Evidence
3
Pulmonary embolism, life-threatening condition
Heard comments from nurses station many yards away, watched medical personnel work
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