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4968
qualitative
book
Bellg, Laurin MD, Near Death in the ICU, Sloan Press, Chapter 1 - When Doctors Die, Dr. John Martin, Pages 14-22, 2016
Near Death in the ICU, Dr. John Martin, Chapter 1, pages 14-22, 2016
1944
2016
26
M
Dr. John Martin was a young military physician in 1944 when his transport jeep was hit by mortar fire during WWII, causing severe abdominal trauma and massive bleeding. During emergency surgery at an Army Hospital, he experienced floating above his body, observing the surgical team working frantically to save him. He watched the surgeon struggle to find the source of bleeding and heard him say "I can't find the damn bleeder!" and "Keep the blood coming." He saw his heart rate slowing on the monitor and felt himself drifting away.
He then found himself enveloped in a soft shroud of mist with tiny points of light darting around him. He felt completely weightless and peaceful, experiencing immense, almost unbearable love. Time lost all meaning in this beautiful bright place of total peace. He heard a distinct voice say firmly but gently, "You can't stay, John. It's not your time to die." Whether male or female he couldn't determine, but the voice was commanding. He observed himself descending back toward his body as the mist dissipated. He watched his pulse strengthen on the monitor as resuscitation efforts succeeded. He heard the surgeon whisper "Thank God" and saw him step back exhausted. During recovery, he experienced multiple spontaneous out-of-body episodes, floating above and beside his physical body while aware of conversations around him. The experience profoundly changed him, though he kept it secret for over 40 years, fearing for his medical credibility. He worried he had suffered psychosis and decided never to speak of it to colleagues or family. Only when diagnosed with terminal cancer at age 87 did he finally share his story.
2
Hospital
8
12
28
Suggestive Evidence
8
Documented cardiac arrest during surgery with blood loss, surgeon confirms near-death status
Multiple specific observations of surgical procedure, conversations, and equipment while unconscious
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