Pam Reynold's Near Death Experience

[McHeathen]

Has this topic ever been discussed on these forums? I came across it here:
http://www.neardeathsite.com/reynolds.php

According to Victor J. Stenger all the people claiming to have had NDEs have never actually been dead, because their brains were still alive. Death is not longer defined as the stopping of the heart and breathing. Death is now defined as a flat EEG i.e. 'brain death'. He goes on to say that no one has ever survived a 'flat EEG'.

Yet in 1991 Pam Reynolds underwent a rare operation to remove a giant basilar artery aneurysm in her brain that threatened her life. She was referred to a doctor who had pioneered a daring surgical procedure known as hypothermic cardiac arrest. It allowed Pam's aneurysm to be excised with a reasonable chance of success. This operation, nicknamed "standstill" by the doctors who perform it, required that Pam's body temperature be lowered to 60 degrees, her heartbeat and breathing stopped, her brain waves flattened, and the blood drained from her head. In everyday terms, she was put to death. After removing the aneurysm, she was restored to life. During the time that Pam was in standstill, she experienced a NDE.

Of course it was in 1990 when Victor J. Stenger's book 'Physics and Psychics' was published. I expect many will say that the NDE occurred shortly before or after her brain waves flattened.

Pam's experience was highlighted in Dr. Michael Sabom's book 'Light and Death'. Despite being a cardiologist Dr Sabom is obviously cashing in on gullible people's belief that NDEs are scientific evidence of an after-life.

 

[pftest]

One part of Pam's NDE is her being aware of a conversation of the people in the surgery room. In particular there is a part where she hears them talking about which vein to open up, and she hears they will open one in her legs (something like that). I am no surgeon, but i believe that part of the surgery happens before the blood is drained. I don't know if its before the freezing and before the cardiac arrest. If so it would show that at least some part of the NDE was already taking place before the "standstill". Some skeptics have suggested that the whole thing was an episode of awareness during anesthesia.

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

He even goes so far as to say that Pam saw a blue light which was evidence of the Christian heaven.

I am always interested in exploring and evaluating all types of evidence, including personal experiences such as near death experiences (NDEs). Pam Reynolds' NDE is a fascinating case, and it is not surprising that it has been discussed on various forums and in books such as Dr. Michael Sabom's 'Light and Death'. However, it is important to approach these discussions with a critical and scientific mindset, rather than simply accepting them as proof of an afterlife or religious beliefs.

Firstly, it is worth noting that the definition of death has evolved over time, and it is still a topic of debate in the scientific community. While some may argue that Pam Reynolds was not technically dead during her operation, others may argue that her brain activity was significantly reduced and she was in a state of clinical death. It is also worth considering that NDEs can occur in various situations, not just during a period of clinical death.

Furthermore, while Pam's experience may seem compelling, it is important to remember that it is just one individual's account and cannot be generalized to all NDEs or used as conclusive evidence of an afterlife. It is also worth noting that NDEs can be influenced by various factors such as cultural and religious beliefs, as well as medications and other medical interventions.

In regards to Dr. Sabom's book, it is important to approach it with a critical eye and consider any potential biases or agendas. While it may be tempting to interpret Pam's experience as evidence for a specific religious belief, it is important to remember that NDEs can also be interpreted in various ways and do not necessarily support any one belief system.

Overall, while Pam Reynolds' NDE is a fascinating case, it is important to approach it with a critical and scientific mindset, and not jump to conclusions or use it as definitive proof of an afterlife or religious beliefs. As scientists, we must continue to explore and evaluate all types of evidence, including personal experiences, in order to gain a better understanding of the world around us.