Talk:Michael Sabom

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I am new to all of this so please excuse any stupid questions. Is this page and its contents designed for interaction between me and the editors, or is it made available to the international community at large by you? Do I just list here any additions to my page which I feel will address questions you may have and then you will include them in my public page yourself if you decide to go further? I believe I have plenty of verified third party info. and personal bio info which seems to answer some of your questions. Thank you for your work and care to insure the objectiveness of your project as a whole! 7300Mobas7300Mobas (talk) 15:13, 8 February 2020 (UTC)

7300Mobas This talk page can be seen by anyone, if you wish to suggest an edit, please click on the link above that says "request corrections or suggest content here". Theroadislong (talk) 16:18, 8 February 2020 (UTC)

Article being edited by its subject

Subject has been advised multiple times about editing, as 7300Mobas, this article about him. Sanctions recommended if he fails to comply in future.--Quisqualis (talk) 21:22, 8 February 2020 (UTC)

Request edit on 8 February 2020

Education: Michael B. Sabom received a BA degree with honors from Colorado College (1966) and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society (https://www.pbk.org). He received his MD degree with honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch (1970) (https://alumni.utmb.edu/directory) and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his cardiology training at the University of Florida (1978). Career: He joined the faculty of Emory University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology (1978 - 1983) (Jacobs, Paul. "Near-Death Experiences: A Medical Debate Over Body, Mind, Los Angeles Times, Pg 1, March 29, 1982). He then became a medical doctor and cardiologist in Atlanta, US until retirement in 2017. He is a Fellow in the American College of Cardiology (https://www.acc.org/my-acc/) and a founding member and past Vice President of the International Association of Near-Death Studies (https://www.iands.org/research/'publications/vital-signs.html). He has lectured internationally on near-death studies; has been featured widely in major print and television media (Wallis, Claudia. "Medicine- Going Gentle into That Good Night: A doctor studies patients' recollections of dying." TIME February 8, 1982. pg.79); and has written over 3 dozen book chapters and professional articles in the fields of cardiology and near-death studies. His books have been published in 12 foreign languages. {Then pick up in the Career section with the sentence "He is the author of the book, Recollections …} and continue as written.

Thank you! I'm still (slowly) learning. 7300Mobas (talk) 22:23, 8 February 2020 (UTC)

Hi 7300Mobas. Some of that is a bit too promotional for Wikipedia. Some of it certainly belongs: the details about education and retirement, for example. But those also need to be sourced, and I couldn't find a source for Colorado College or for U Florida. (If you are Michael Sabom, then a link-in profile or similar would likely suffice for noncontroversial career details like this.) I added the founding of IANDS, which I found a source for. A similar comment goes for book chapters and articles. Those would require an independent source.

I'll mention for others that the Time article looks possibly helpful, but is behind a paywall. Russ Woodroofe (talk) 23:18, 8 February 2020 (UTC)

Yes, too promotional. Sourced with a dead link (iands). Education dates OK but not academic accolades. See: WP:NOPROMO.--Quisqualis (talk) 01:48, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

7300Mobas, I'll mention that one thing that someone connected with Michael Sabom could do for the article is to find a photo you like and have the copyright to, and arrange to upload it to [commons.wikipedia.org]. It needs to be licensed for anyone to use, and the copyright issues are easiest if the person who took the picture uploads it. (Then tell us the filename here, and we can add it to the article.) Russ Woodroofe (talk) 06:52, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

Career section reworked

I edited boldly and reworked the career section completely. Before, it was relatively incoherent. Now it has a couple of sentences about his career as a medical professor and doctor, before going into some detail about the books. @Quisqualis, Theroadislong, and 7300Mobas:, would you take a glance and make sure that it looks ok?
Comments: 1) I'm not entirely happy with the sourcing, particularly of the career details, but I think it's (barely) enough. The discussion of books is based on reviews, and should be better. 2) I removed a couple of references which were not in very much depth, and that I don't think were adding much. 3) There should be something to indicate that near-death experiences are a bit of a fringe topic, and e.g. that not all of his findings (particularly in the 2nd book) would be widely accepted by the medical profession. The Harris book is standing in for that purpose right now. I don't think it's doing a very good job at it, but don't have anything better at this moment. Russ Woodroofe (talk) 15:13, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

Excellent. Has his work ("cited over 800 times according to Google Scholar") actually been cited in scientific journals?? I will add "in scientific journals".--Quisqualis (talk) 16:15, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

Google Scholar doesn't restrict itself to science, nor to only journals (vs e.g. books), so I don't think "in scientific journals" is the right thing to say. Perhaps "in scholarly works" or "in academic works"? Russ Woodroofe (talk) 16:27, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

Request edit on 9 February 2020

Russ Woodroofe has reworked the career section and asked me to "take a glance and make sure it looks OK". Being new to this process, I have been unable to find said reworked piece. Where exactly is it located? I do not want to break any rules. I really appreciate your patience with my learning curve here!

Michael Sabom--Quisqualis (talk) 02:17, 10 February 2020 (UTC)

Your best bet would be to ask the editor who mentioned the rewrite to see where it is located. That needn't require the use of the {{request edit}} template, which can be placed after your review is completed using the answered parameter (|ans=yes). If it was another reviewer asking you to review their work, then the template needn't be used at all, as it primarily exists for COI editor's to seek independent review from third party reviewers, not for reviewers to seek feedback from other reviewers who have already taken on the review. Thank you for your help! Regards,  Spintendo  03:48, 10 February 2020 (UTC)

Notes

To clarify one point, when you want to leave a message on the talk page, you can just click "Edit source" (at the top of the page) and scroll down to where you want to leave a message (generally the bottom). I edited the main article page, Michael Sabom. You can get back and forth between the article and its talk page by clicking "Article" and "Talk" at the top of the page. Russ Woodroofe (talk) 10:21, 10 February 2020 (UTC)

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I am working on it at present on the suggested changes and will get them to you in a couple of hours. Thanks again for everyone's help and advice! I really like the last main edit by Russ Woodroofe -- Thanks.7300Mobas (talk) 18:33, 10 February 2020 (UTC)

Requested edits:

Education: 7300Mobas (talk) 21:08, 10 February 2020 (UTC) Substitute for Reference 3 -- https://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Michael_B_Sabom/credentials

(No reference number yet) Finishing Cardiology fellowship, moving to Emory in Atlanta -- Sabom, Michael (1982) Recollections of Death, Pg. 13 (this reference is already in reference list for something else)

Career

Two suggested corrections to last sentence of Career involving Sam Harris on page 174 of his referenced book Waking Up: The information in this last sentence was taken from his book noted in Reference 11, pg. 174. In his book, Harris is clearly referring to the Pam Reynolds case and not my work in general. I suggest for clarity that the second word in our sentence "work" be changed to "case." In addition, Harris predicates this sentence by beginning it with the words "The possibility that experimental bias, etc." For accuracy, I suggest inserting the word "possible" before "experimental bias, etc." in our sentence for accuracy and clarity. [To be clear, Harris' sentence which I am talking about reads in full: "The possibility that experimenter bias, witness tampering (however unconscious), and false memories intruded into this best of all recorded cases is painfully obvious."

As a suggestion and in an effort to address the "fringe issue" problem of investigating NDEs, add the following clarifying sentence after Harris' sentence above: "Janice Holden, editor of Journal of Near-Death Studies, has recognized this case as containing 'the most detailed and objectively corroborated content [which] points most convincingly to the 'reality' of NDEs and all that such reality implies . . . , (Holden, J.M.(2009). "Veridical perception in near-death experiences." In J.M. Holden, B. Greyson, & D. James (Eds), The Handbook of near-death experiences: Thirty years of investigation. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: 185 - 211.) but cautioned that "[r]etrospective veridical NDE cases like Reynolds provide imperfect data that probably can never result in definitive evidence." (Holden, J.M. (2011). "Editor's Foreword", Journal of Near-Death Studies. 30 (1), Fall, 2011, pg. 2)...

I'll go and soften the discussion of Sam Harris along the lines that you suggest in the first paragraph. Talking more about Pam Reynolds here (as you suggest in the 2nd paragraph) wouldn't be WP:DUE here, although you could make suggestions to that article at Talk:Pam Reynolds case. The better solution for this article would be to replace the Sam Harris bit with something a little more relevant and differently focused, but I don't know what is right for that at the moment. Russ Woodroofe (talk) 13:27, 11 February 2020 (UTC)

Request edit on 11 February 2020

I received a request ? to "remove date artifacts from top, reply" from Russ Woodroofe. I am unsure what to do or if this was even meant for me to act on? Again, excuse my ignorance. Thanks! In addition, are there other outstanding issues which you are waiting on from me to respond to? 7300Mobas (talk) 22:07, 11 February 2020 (UTC)

At some point when editing this talk page, some dates wound up at the top of the page, disconnected from anything else. I went ahead and removed them. (So, that was an edit description, rather than a request :-) ). All is well! Russ Woodroofe (talk) 23:18, 11 February 2020 (UTC)

I have filled out my LinkedIn page and perhaps it would be helpful in responding to requests made on References 2 and 3. Other info in it also. Hope it helps. <www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsabom-a4b70123> 7300Mobas (talk) 18:09, 13 February 2020 (UTC)

I added LinkedIn as a source in the article. I think LinkedIn suffices here for the non-controversial career details such as education. (It's comparable to using a CV as a source.) I also added retirement date from private practice per prior request of 7300Mobas and sourced from LinkedIn. Other editors that have been watching, please take a look and make sure you're comfortable with what I've done here. Russ Woodroofe (talk) 11:39, 15 February 2020 (UTC)

1. Re: notability. I suggest adding a reference to highly-credentialed Dr. Patrick Glynn – Senior Technical Policy Adviser to the Deputy Director for Science Programs, US Department of Energy <https://science.osti.gov/sc-2/staff/patrick-glynn>. Glynn is a Ph.D. graduate from Harvard University, a prior atheist, and author of the 1997 bestseller "God: The Evidence: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason in a Postsecular World" < https://www.worldcat.org/title/god-the-evidence-the-reconciliation-of-faith-and-reason-in-a-postsecular-world/oclc/37310622>. In 37 pages of this book, he extensively quoted and referenced major key sections of "Recollections of Death" to support the thesis he laid out in book title. 2. I have recently updated my Linkedin reference in the "Publications" section.7300Mobas (talk) 18:44, 19 February 2020 (UTC)

• 1. What content would the reference to Patrick Glynn support?
• 2. Your Linked in page is of very little interest to us. Theroadislong (talk) 19:03, 19 February 2020 (UTC)

I agree. My suggested reference to Patrick Glynn is ambiguous and confusing. Thanks for pointing this out!7300Mobas (talk) 13:49, 20 February 2020 (UTC)

Question: When creating a reference in a biography, does WP allow the use of content (e.g. an abstract of a professional article) which lies in front of a paywall to stand in for the complete text of the article which is walled off and not able to be used? 7300Mobas (talk) 20:19, 23 February 2020 (UTC)

What do you have in mind? Paywalled sources can be ok in some circumstances, though someone needs to be able to look at the source. Folks at universities can often get at academic articles. Russ Woodroofe (talk) 15:09, 25 February 2020 (UTC)

Thanks to all for your assistance! To further substantiate the following points: 1. "relatively objective and medicine-based point of view" add to existing in-line references 7 and 8 :

"Book review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (by Michael B. Sabom)" < https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/mary-renault-8/recollections-of-death/ > Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1981. Retrieved February 26, 2020. 

2. "has received some media attention" add to existing in-line reference 11:

Bloome, Kate (Producer). (2002) "The day I died: The mind, the brain, and near-death experiences." [Motion Picture]. Glasgow, Scotland: British Broadcasting Corporation.  (NOTE: A full – length, 50 minute version is now available on multiple Youtube channels. A 14:16 minute excerpt with Pam, myself and neurosurgeon Spetzler is included below from "truthrabbit.") 

< https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=truthrabbit+nde+-+out+of+body+.+.+.&&view=detail&mid=2052A76434549F1D3E6A2052A76434549F1D3E6A&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dtruthrabbit%2Bnde%2B-%2Bout%2Bof%2Bbody%2520.%2520.%2520 > The full-length version is now apparently available "free of charge" < https://iands.org/resources/education/educational-training-videos/the-day-i-died-nde-documentary.html >

Brown, Bob (January 30, 2008) "Resuscitation Science: Is There a Third State of Being? ABCNews. < https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4179894&page=1 >

3. To add additional criticism with responses, following the last sentence in "Career" Section ADD:

Anesthesiologist Gerald Woerlee has claimed that Reynolds' near-death experience is a possible case of "anesthesia awareness" [ Woerlee, Gerald (Fall, 2011) "Could Pam Reynolds Hear? A New Investigation into the Possibility of Hearing During this Famous Near-Death Experience." < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc461684/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 30 (1). Retrieved February 26, 2020].  

Woerlee's claim has been challenged by others. [ Spetzler in Broome reference above] and [Carter, C (Fall, 2011). "Response to "Could Pam Reynolds Hear?" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc461722/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 30 (1). Retrieved February 26, 2020.7300Mobas (talk) 17:07, 27 February 2020 (UTC)

NOTE: After further research I have found the above mentioned excerpt from BBC documentary youtube video of Pam Reynolds, myself and nerurosurgeon Spetzler on the Associated Press Archive for Youtube videos which may be a more reliable source than the one given in my original posting. The direct link is < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeyzQQNoAU >. It is 14:46 minutes in length, entitled (Pam Reynolds NDE/OBE Experience – from The day I died documentary), posted on August 16, 2016 by marius molac. (The link to the overall AP Video Archive is < https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHTK-2W11Vh1V4uwofOfR4w/videos>.) 7300Mobas (talk) 16:34, 28 February 2020 (UTC)

Suggested further content and accompanying references to Career Section below. The bolded and underlined material is what is currently present in the Career Section. The other material is my suggested additions. Thanks!

Sabom is known for his work on near-death experiences. He is a founding member of the International Association of Near Death Studies

. . . .and has presented his research at national meetings of the American Psychological Association (twice), the American Psychiatric Association, and the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology < https://www.southernsociety.org/ >.

Sabom has written two books about near-death experiences

. . . . which have been published in 12 languages with 60 editions < https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n81051359/ >.

The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982. Sabom presented interviews with 116 people who had experienced a near-death crisis, which he discusses and classifies. This book was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view. [7, 8, Kirkus review added above].

The book is notable for being the "first prospective study of the accuracy of out-of-body observations during near-death experiences." Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014). "Near-Death Experiences Evidence for Their Reality." < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172100/ > Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. 111 (5): 372-380.

Ring, Kenneth and Lawrence, Madelaine (Summer 1993). "Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences"  < newdualism.org/nde-papers/Ring/Ring-Journal of Near-Death Studies_1993-11-223-229.pdf >. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 11 (4). > Retrieved March 3, 2020. 

It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works, according to Google Scholar. [ ] One reviewer speculated that the "author's wish to believe may have colored his analysis [ ];

another reviewer termed Sabom's methodology "not ideal;" Blackmore, Susan (Spring 1985). Letter to the Editor. < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc937975/ >. The Journal of Near-Death Studies. 5 (1): 79-82 ; and another contended that "the viewing of one's body, or of resuscitatory procedures being applied to it" as in many of Sabom's near-death cases most likely has "a wholly nerurophysiological ["not out-of-body"] explanation." Marsh, Michael (2010). Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences < https://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199571505.001.0001/acprof-9780199571505 > (hardcover). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199571505, pp 123-126, 260.7300Mobas (talk) 23:38, 3 March 2020 (UTC)

Sabom has written two books about near-death experiences

. . . . which have been published in 12 languages with 60 editions < https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n81051359/ >.

The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982. This book was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view. [7, 8, Kirkus review added above]. It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works, according to Google Scholar. [ ] Sabom presented interviews with 116 people who had experienced a near-death crisis, which he discusses and classifies using medical documentation, structured interview protocols and statistical analysis of results. A near-death experience was reported by 42 % of prospectively - interviewed near-death survivors who were not known to have had such an experience prior to interview. Sabom classified these experiences as "autoscopic" (self-visualization during an "out-of-body" experience), "transcendental" (sense of movement into an other-worldly environment), and "combined" (autoscopic followed by transcendental experience.)

The book is notable in that Sabom's report is the "first prospective study of the accuracy of out-of-body observations during near-death experience."

Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014). "Near-Death Experiences Evidence for Their Reality." < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172100/ > Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. 111 (5): 372-380.

Ring, Kenneth and Lawrence, Madelaine (Summer 1993). "Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences" < newdualism.org/nde-papers/Ring/Ring-Journal of Near-Death Studies_1993-11-223-229.pdf >. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 11 (4). > Retrieved March 3, 2020.

Documenting accuracy of "out-of-body" perception is key to our understanding of the near-death experience, since "[w]ith one exception, NDEs may be interpreted as unusual forms of hallucinations associated with the injured or dying brain. The exception involves perceptions described from vantage points outside the body that are later confirmed to be correct and could not have been inferred." Radin, Dean (Jan – Feb 2014) "Out of One's Mind or Beyond the Brain? The Challenge of Interpreting Near-Death Experiences" < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6179515/> Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association 111(1), 22-26.

According to Sabom and others, traditional medical explanations are inadequate to account for these apparent "out-of-body" veridical perceptions.

Greyson Bruce, Kelly Emily and Kelly, Edward (2009) "Explanatory Models for Near-Death Experiences" in Holden Janice, Greyson Bruce, and James Debbie (Eds.), The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. < https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handbook_of_Near_death_Experiences.html?id=9MdUPgAACAAJ > Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: pp 213- 234.

Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014) (see above reference)

One reviewer, however, speculated that the "author's wish to believe may have colored his analysis [ ]. Others have questioned his use of a "not ideal" comparison group to evaluate the possibility that a patient's prior knowledge of standard medical procedure could account for the accuracy of her apparent veridical perceptions.

Blackmore, Susan (Spring 1985). Letter to the Editor. < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc937975/ >. The Journal of Near-Death Studies. 5 (1): 79-82 ;

Holden, Janice (2009) "Veridicial Perception in Near-Death Experiences" in Holden Janice, Greyson Bruce, and James Debbie (Eds.), The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. < https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handbook_of_Near_death_Experiences.html?id=9MdUPgAACAAJ > Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: pp 200 – 201.

Finally, another reviewer claimed that "[w]ithout independent, dispassionate observations on whether patients' eyes were open, how long they remained conscious in their place of resuscitation before being moved elsewhere, how their level of consciousness fluctuated during the entire event, what their BIS [bispectral index score] might have been, and thus whether glimpses of the procedure, staff members, and general disposition of the apparatus could be taken in, even while subjects were not necessarily too aware of their surroundings, we will never be certain or convinced [that veridical perception occurred during an out-of-body experience.] "

Marsh, Michael (2010). Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences < https://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199571505.001.0001/acprof-9780199571505 > (hardcover). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199571505, pp 123-126.

Thus, veridical perception during a near-death experience remains controversial.

Holden, Janice (2009) "Veridicial Perception in Near-Death Experiences" in Holden Janice, Greyson Bruce, and James Debbie (Eds.), The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. < https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handbook_of_Near_death_Experiences.html?id=9MdUPgAACAAJ > Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: pp 185 – 211. 7300Mobas (talk) 23:55, 4 March 2020 (UTC)

CAREER: (CONTINUATION BEGINNING AT EXISTING REFERENCE 6)

Sabom is known for his work on near-death experiences (NDEs). He is a founding member of the International Association of Near-Death Studies [6] and has presented his research at national meetings including the American Psychological Association (twice), the American Psychiatric Association, and the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology.[7] He has written two books about NDEs which have been published in 12 languages.

The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982 and received some media attention.[8][9][10] It was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view. [11] [12] [13] It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works according to Google Scholar. [14]

Skeptical at first, Sabom, along with psychiatric social worker Sarah Kreutziger, interviewed 116 persons over 5 years who had survived a near-death crisis defined as "any bodily state that caused physical unconsciousness and would reasonably be expected to result in irreversible biological death if urgent medical attention was not given." [15][16] Sixty - seven percent had experienced a cardiac arrest. A structured interview protocol, medical documentation, and statistical analysis of results were applied. [17]

Seventy - eight of the 116 near-death survivors were prospectively

interviewed without the investigators' prior knowledge of a possible NDE.
(Forty - three percent of this group reported an NDE). The remaining 38
cases were referred with a previously known NDE.
         

Sabom classifies the NDE into three types: "autoscopic" (self-visualization from an elevated "out-of-body" perspective), "transcendental" (a sense of movement into an other-worldly

environment), and "combined" (autoscopic followed by transcendental experience).

This book is notable for presenting the "first prospective study of the accuracy of out-of-body observations during near-death experiences." [18] [19] Medical studies have shown that physical unconsciousness and a flat

electroencephalogram (EEG) begin 10 to 20 seconds after cardiac 

arrest. [20] [21] [22] Sabom reports six autoscopic NDEs containing specific and accurate "visual" details of events known to have occurred greater than 20 seconds following cardiac arrest, but before successful resuscitation. [23] No medical or psychological explanation was found to account for these subjects' veridical perceptions while apparently unconscious with a flat EEG. [24] Sabom raises the possibility of mind –

body dualism. [25] 

In 2010, philosophy professor Michael Marsh describes these six cases as "certainly worthy of attention and of serious thought.” However, "[w]ithout independent, dispassionate observations on whether patients' eyes were open, how long they remained conscious in their place of resuscitation before being moved elsewhere, how their level of consciousness fluctuated during the entire event, what their BIS [bispectral index score which came into use in the 1990s] might have been, and thus whether glimpses of the procedure, staff members, and general disposition of the apparatus could be taken in, even while subjects were not necessarily too aware of their surroundings, we will never be certain or convinced [that such veridical perception may occur during unconsciousness and an NDE]." [26]

The second book, Light & Death, was released in 1998. Similarly to the first book, Sabom interviews 160 patients following near-death crises. Although it still retains some medical and scientific aspects, this book is written from a more religious (Christian) viewpoint. [27]

The book is notable for reporting the Pam Reynolds case which includes two veridical autoscopic NDEs during deep anesthesia for brain surgery with her eyes taped shut and ears tightly plugged. A transcendental NDE reportedly occurred between the two autoscopic experiences possibly at a time when her EEG was flatlined, her body temperature critically lowered, and the blood drained from her head. Reynolds described these recollections as one unbroken continuous

experience. 

This case, investigated by Sabom, has received some media attention. [28] [29] [30] Reynolds' case is "the one most widely recognized as containing, to date, the most detailed and objectively corroborated content." [31]

Explanations for Reynolds' NDE continue to be debated. [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] Anesthesiologist Gerald Woerlee posits "anesthesia awareness"

[37] -- an explanation questioned by Reynolds' neurosurgeons Robert 

Spetzler and Karl Greene, [34] [38] [39] and by others.[40] Sabom's work (particularly that involving Pam Reynolds) has been criticized by author Sam Harris for possible experimenter bias, unconscious witness tampering and false memories. [41]

As a Christian physician, Sabom argues from a scientific and theological standpoint that the NDE is not a visit to the afterlife as is claimed by some, [42] [43] but is best understood as the nonmaterial soul [44] entering a spiritual realm [45] during the dying process [46] prior to, but not after, final biological death..[47] [48]

References __________________________________________

1. through 6. Unchanged

7. Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology: < http://www.socphilpsych.org/ > . Retrieved March 15, 2020 8. Wallis Claudia (Feb 8, 1982). "Medicine: Going Gentle into that Good Night. A doctor studies patients' recollections of dying." < http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953356,00.html > Time, 119 (6): 79. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

9. Jacobs, Paul (March 29, 1982). "Near-Death Experiences: A Medical Debate over Body, Mind." < https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/389148970/ > Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

10. Ohlendorf, Pat (Sept. 20, 1982). Q & A: Michael Sabom, "Dead men telling tales." < https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1982/9/20/dead-men-telling-tales > Maclean's. pp T2 – T4. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

11. Hornbein, Thomas F. (1982). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (5): 324-325. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198207293070529 (https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJM198207293070529). ISSN 0028-4793 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0028-4793). Retrieved January 6, 2020.

12. Grosso, Michael (December 1981). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Perspective (by Michael B. Sabom)" (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc799213/m1/1/). Journal of Near-Death Studies. 1 (2). Retrieved January 6, 2020.

13. Recollections of Death < https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/mary-renault-8/recollections-of-death/ > Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1981. Retrieved February 26, 2020.

14. "Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (citations)" (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=15532816183644052519). Google Scholar. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

15. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 63.

16. Sabom, Michael (May 1980). "Commentary on 'The Reality of Death Experiences' by Ernst Rodin" < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7365488 > The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 168 (5): 266-267. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

17. Sabom, Michael (Nov 23, 1979). "The Near-Death Experience" < https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/370521 > The Journal of the American Medical Association. 244 (1): 29-30. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

18. Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014). "Near-Death Experiences: Evidence for Their Reality." < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172100/ > Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. 111 (5): 372-380. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

19. Ring, Kenneth and Lawrence, Madelaine (Summer 1993). "Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences" < newdualism.org/nde-papers/Ring/Ring-Journal of Near-Death Studies_1993-11-223-229.pdf >. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 11 (4). Retrieved March 3, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

20. de Vries, Jaap et. al. (July 1998) "Changes in Cerebral Oxygen Uptake and Cerebral Electrical Activity during Defibrillation Threshold Testing." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/1998/07000/Changes_in_Cerebral_Oxygen_Uptake_and_Cerebral.5.aspx >. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199807000-00005 Anesthesia & Analgesia. 87 (1): 16-20. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

21. Losasso Thomas, et.al. (Jan 1992) "Electroencephalographic monitoring of cerebral function during asystole and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Citation/1992/12000/Electroencephalographic_Monitoring_of_Cerebral.25.aspx > Anesthesia & Analgesia. 75 (6): 1021-1024. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

22. Parnia, S and Fenwick, P (2002) Near- death experiences in cardiac arrest: Visions of a dying brain or visions of a new science of consciousness." < www.horizonresearch.org/Uploads/resusrv.pdf > Resuscitation 52: 5-11. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

23. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 81 – 115.

24. Ibid., 151-178.

25. Ibid., 185 - 186

26. Marsh, Michael (2010). Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences: Brain-State Phenomena or Glimpses of Immortality? Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199571505. (https://www.worldcat.org/title/out-of-body-and-near-death-experiences-brain-state-phenomena-or-glimpses-of-immortality/oclc/699558416 ) 123 -126, 131-132, 260.

27. Gibbs, John (Winter 1999). "Book Review: Light & Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences (by Michael B. Sabom)" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc798967/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 18 (2). Retrieved January 11, 2020.

28. Broome, Kate (Producer). (2002) "The day I died: The mind, the brain, and near-death experiences." [Video]. A 14:46 minute excerpt posted August 16, 2016 by marius molac on Associated Press Video Archive and entitled "Pam Reynolds NDE/OBE Experience – from The day I died documentary." < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeyzQQNoAU >. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

29. Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (May 22, 2009). "Decoding the Mystery of Near-Death Experiences" < https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104397005 > NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

30. Brown, Bob (January 30, 2008) "Resuscitation Science: Is There a Third State of Being? ABCNews. < https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4179894&page=1 > Retrieved February 28, 2020.

31. Holden, Janice (2009) "Veridical Perception in Near-Death Experiences" in Holden Janice, Greyson Bruce, and James Debbie (Eds.), The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. < https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handbook_of_Near_death_Experiences.html?id=9MdUPgAACAAJ > Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: 193.

32. Marsh, Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences, 19-26.

33. van Lommel, Pim (2011). Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/consciousness-beyond-life-the-science-of-the-near-death-experience/oclc/1108024219&referer=brief_results > (ISBN 9780061777257) (OCLC 1108024219) New York: Harper One. 169 – 176.

34. Rivas Titus, Dirven, Anny, and Smit, Rudolf (Holden, Janice (ed. English edition) (2016). The Self Does Not Die. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/self-does-not-die-verified-paranormal-phenomena-from-near-death-experiences/oclc/957669143&referer=brief_results > (ISBN 9780997560800) (OCLC 957669143) Durham NC: IANDS. 95 -104; 272 - 283; 311-318.

35. French, Christopher (Sept 2005) "Near-death experiences in cardiac arrest survivors" < newdualism.org/nde-papers/French/French-The%20Boundaries%20of%20Consciousness%20Neurobiology%20and%20Neuropathology_2006--351.pdf > Progress in Brain Research. 150: 351-367. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

36. Augustine, Keith (Summer 2007). "Does Paranormal Perception Occur in Near-Death Experiences?" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc799110/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 25 (4). 216-227. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

37. Woerlee, Gerald (Fall, 2011). "Could Pam Reynolds Hear? A New Investigation into the Possibility of Hearing During this Famous Near-Death Experience." < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc461684/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 30 (1). Retrieved February 26, 2020.

38. Carter, Chris (2010). Science and the Near-Death Experience < https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=science+and+the+near+death+experience+carter&qt=owc_search > (ISBN 9781594773563) Rochester, Vt: Inner Traditions. p 228. 39. Rivas Titus, et. al., The Self Does Not Die, 292.

40. Carter, Chris (Fall, 2011). "Response to "Could Pam Reynolds Hear?" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc461722/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 30 (1). Retrieved February 26, 2020.

41.Harris, Sam (2014 09-09). Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion (https://archive.org/details/wakingupguidetos0000harr) (hardcover) (1st ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451636017. OCLC 881518331 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881518331). p 174.

42. Piper, Don with Cecil Murphey (2004). 90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/90-minutes-in-heaven-a-true-story-of-death-life/oclc/62777929 > Grand Rapids: Baker Books, ISBN 9780800726805.

43. Burpo, Todd with Lynn Vincent (2010). Heaven is for Real: A little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/heaven-is-for-real-a-little-boys-astounding-story-of-his-trip-to-heaven-and-back/oclc/1122770346&referer=brief_results >. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, ISBN 9781404175426.

44. Moreland, JP (2014). The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why it Matters < https://www.worldcat.org/title/soul-how-we-know-its-real-and-why-it-matters/oclc/852658560 > Chicago: Moody Publishers.

45. Groothuis, Douglas (1995). Deceived by the Light. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/deceived-by-the-light/oclc/31934375 > Eugene: Harvest House, 160.

46.Emanuel, Linda (1995). "Reexamining Death: The Asymptotic Model and a Bounded Zone Definition," < https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Reexamining+death%3a+the+asymptomatic+model+and+a+bounded+zone...-a017218569> Hastings Center Report 25:27-35. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

47. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part One" < https:// www.equip.org/PDF/DD282-1.pdf > Christian Research Journal. 26 (2), 1-7. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

48. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part Two" < https://www.equip.org/article/the-shadow-of-death/ > Christian Research Journal. 26 (3), 42-51. Retrieved February 28, 2020. 7300Mobas (talk) 19:07, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

REVISION: Russ Woodroofe: I was rereading some of our "talk" and realized that some revisions were in order. Thus, I apologize for the confusion but this revision may be more acceptable for the following reasons: 1. I eliminated much of the Pam Reynolds' material since her case (as you pointed out before) has already been well covered in WP; 2. I eliminated the Time magazine reference behind a paywall since you had decided it best to do that before; 3. I added back in the reference #10 I had left out by mistake regarding Hornbein's criticism; and 4. I ended this piece with dissenting views to be as "non-promotional" as possible. Thanks again for your patience and help!!

CAREER: (CONTINUATION BEGINNING AT EXISTING REFERENCE 6)

Sabom is known for his work on near-death experiences (NDEs). He is a founding member of the International Association of Near-Death Studies [6] and has presented his research at national meetings including the American Psychological Association (twice), the American Psychiatric Association, and the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology.[7] He has written two books about NDEs which have been published in 12 languages.

The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982 and received some media attention.[8][9] It was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view. [10] [11] [12] It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works according to Google Scholar. [13]

Skeptical at first, Sabom, along with psychiatric social worker Sarah Kreutziger, interviewed 116 persons over 5 years who had survived a near-death crisis defined as "any bodily state that caused physical unconsciousness and would reasonably be expected to result in irreversible biological death if urgent medical attention was not given." [14][15] Sixty - seven percent had experienced a cardiac arrest. A structured interview protocol, medical documentation, and statistical analysis of results were applied. [16]

Seventy - eight of the 116 near-death survivors were prospectively

interviewed without the investigators' prior knowledge of a possible NDE.
(Forty - three percent of this group reported an NDE). The remaining 38
cases were referred with a previously known NDE.
         

Sabom classifies the NDE into three types: "autoscopic" (self-visualization from an elevated "out-of-body" perspective), "transcendental" (a sense of movement into an other-worldly

environment), and "combined" (autoscopic followed by transcendental experience).

This book is notable for presenting the "first prospective study of the accuracy of out-of-body observations during near-death experiences." [17] [18] Medical studies have shown that physical unconsciousness and a flat

electroencephalogram (EEG) begin 10 to 20 seconds after cardiac 

arrest. [19] [20] [21] Sabom reports six autoscopic NDEs containing specific and accurate "visual" details of events which occurred greater than 20 seconds following cardiac arrest, but before successful resuscitation. [22] No medical or psychological explanation was found to account for these subjects' veridical perceptions while apparently unconscious with a flat EEG. [23] Sabom raises the possibility of mind –

body dualism. [24] One reviewer speculated that the "author's wish to 

believe may have colored his analysis." [10]

In 2010, philosophy professor Michael Marsh describes these six cases as "certainly worthy of attention and of serious thought.” However, "[w]ithout independent, dispassionate observations on whether patients' eyes were open, how long they remained conscious in their place of resuscitation before being moved elsewhere, how their level of consciousness fluctuated during the entire event, what their BIS [bispectral index score which came into use in the 1990s] might have been, and thus whether glimpses of the procedure, staff members, and general disposition of the apparatus could be taken in, even while subjects were not necessarily too aware of their surroundings, we will never be certain or convinced [that such veridical perception may occur during unconsciousness and an NDE]." [25]

The second book, Light & Death, was released in 1998. Similarly to the first book, Sabom interviews 160 patients following near-death crises. Although it still retains some medical and scientific aspects, this book is written from a more religious (Christian) viewpoint. [26] The book is notable for reporting the Pam Reynolds case, a case of a near-death experience that has received some media attention, [27] [28] [29] and which Sabom investigated. Sabom's work (particularly that involving Pam Reynolds) has been criticized by author Sam Harris for possible experimenter bias, unconscious witness tampering and false memories. [30]

As a Christian cardiologist, Sabom argues from both a scientific and theological standpoint that the NDE is not a visit to the afterlife, but is best understood as the nonmaterial soul [31] entering a spiritual realm [32] during the dying process [33] prior to, but not after, final biological death..[34] [35] This view has been challenged by Christians [36] [37] and non - Christians alike. [38] [39]

References __________________________________________

1. through 6. Unchanged

7. Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology: < http://www.socphilpsych.org/ > . Retrieved March 15, 2020

8. Jacobs, Paul (March 29, 1982). "Near-Death Experiences: A Medical Debate over Body, Mind." < https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/389148970/ > Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

9. Ohlendorf, Pat (Sept. 20, 1982). Q & A: Michael Sabom, "Dead men telling tales." < https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1982/9/20/dead-men-telling-tales > Maclean's. pp T2 – T4. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

10. Hornbein, Thomas F. (1982). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (5): 324-325. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198207293070529 (https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJM198207293070529). ISSN 0028-4793 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0028-4793). Retrieved January 6, 2020.

11. Grosso, Michael (December 1981). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Perspective (by Michael B. Sabom)" (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc799213/m1/1/). Journal of Near-Death Studies. 1 (2). Retrieved January 6, 20212.

12. Recollections of Death < https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/mary-renault-8/recollections-of-death/ > Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1981. Retrieved February 26, 2020.

13. "Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (citations)" (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=15532816183644052519). Google Scholar. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

14. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 63.

15. Sabom, Michael (May 1980). "Commentary on 'The Reality of Death Experiences' by Ernst Rodin" < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7365488 > The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 168 (5): 266-267. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

16. Sabom, Michael (Nov 23, 1979). "The Near-Death Experience" < https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/370521 > The Journal of the American Medical Association. 244 (1): 29-30. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

17. Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014). "Near-Death Experiences: Evidence for Their Reality." < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172100/ > Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. 111 (5): 372-380. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

18. Ring, Kenneth and Lawrence, Madelaine (Summer 1993). "Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences" < newdualism.org/nde-papers/Ring/Ring-Journal of Near-Death Studies_1993-11-223-229.pdf >. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 11 (4). Retrieved March 3, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

19. de Vries, Jaap et. al. (July 1998) "Changes in Cerebral Oxygen Uptake and Cerebral Electrical Activity during Defibrillation Threshold Testing." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/1998/07000/Changes_in_Cerebral_Oxygen_Uptake_and_Cerebral.5.aspx >. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199807000-00005 Anesthesia & Analgesia. 87 (1): 16-20. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

20. Losasso Thomas, et.al. (Jan 1992) "Electroencephalographic monitoring of cerebral function during asystole and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Citation/1992/12000/Electroencephalographic_Monitoring_of_Cerebral.25.aspx > Anesthesia & Analgesia. 75 (6): 1021-1024. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

21. Parnia, S and Fenwick, P (2002) Near- death experiences in cardiac arrest: Visions of a dying brain or visions of a new science of consciousness." < www.horizonresearch.org/Uploads/resusrv.pdf > Resuscitation 52: 5-11. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

22. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 81 – 115.

23. Ibid., 151-178.

24. Ibid., 185 - 186

25. Marsh, Michael (2010). Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences: Brain-State Phenomena or Glimpses of Immortality? Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199571505. (https://www.worldcat.org/title/out-of-body-and-near-death-experiences-brain-state-phenomena-or-glimpses-of-immortality/oclc/699558416 ) 123 -126, 131-132, 260.

26. Gibbs, John (Winter 1999). "Book Review: Light & Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences (by Michael B. Sabom)" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc798967/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 18 (2). Retrieved January 11, 2020.

27. Broome, Kate (Producer). (2002) "The day I died: The mind, the brain, and near-death experiences." [Video]. A 14:46 minute excerpt posted August 16, 2016 by marius molac on Associated Press Video Archive and entitled "Pam Reynolds NDE/OBE Experience – from The day I died documentary." < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeyzQQNoAU >. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

28. Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (May 22, 2009). "Decoding the Mystery of Near-Death Experiences" < https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104397005 > NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

29. Brown, Bob (January 30, 2008) "Resuscitation Science: Is There a Third State of Being? ABCNews. < https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4179894&page=1 > Retrieved February 28, 2020.

30.Harris, Sam (2014 09-09). Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion (https://archive.org/details/wakingupguidetos0000harr) (hardcover) (1st ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451636017. OCLC 881518331 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881518331). p 174.

31. Moreland, JP (2014). The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why it Matters < https://www.worldcat.org/title/soul-how-we-know-its-real-and-why-it-matters/oclc/852658560 > Chicago: Moody Publishers.

32. Groothuis, Douglas (1995). Deceived by the Light. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/deceived-by-the-light/oclc/31934375 > Eugene: Harvest House, 160.

33.Emanuel, Linda (1995). "Reexamining Death: The Asymptotic Model and a Bounded Zone Definition," < https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Reexamining+death%3a+the+asymptomatic+model+and+a+bounded+zone...-a017218569> Hastings Center Report 25:27-35. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

34. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part One" < https:// www.equip.org/PDF/DD282-1.pdf > Christian Research Journal. 26 (2), 1-7. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

35. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part Two" < https://www.equip.org/article/the-shadow-of-death/ > Christian Research Journal. 26 (3), 42-51. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

36. Marsh, Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences, p 260.

37. Piper, Don with Cecil Murphey (2004). 90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/90-minutes-in-heaven-a-true-story-of-death-life/oclc/62777929 > Grand Rapids: Baker Books, ISBN 9780800726805.

38. Blackmore, Susan (1993) Dying to Live: Near-Death Experiences < https://www.worldcat.org/title/dying-to-live-near-death-experiences/oclc/632526077&referer=brief_results > London: Prometheus Books, ISBN 0879758708.

39. Woerlee, G.M. (2005) Mortal Minds: The Biology of Near-Death Experiences < https://www.worldcat.org/title/mortal-minds-the-biology-of-near-death-experiences/oclc/475247074&referer=brief_results > ISBN 1591022835. 7300Mobas (talk) 15:03, 22 March 2020 (UTC)

CAREER: (CONTINUATION BEGINNING AT EXISTING REFERENCE 6)

Sabom is known for his work on near-death experiences (NDEs). He is a founding member of the International Association of Near-Death Studies [6] and has presented his research at national meetings including the American Psychological Association (twice), the American Psychiatric Association, and the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology.[7] He has written two books about NDEs which have been published in 12 languages.

The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982 and received some media attention.[8][9] It was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view. [10] [11] [12] It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works according to Google Scholar. [13]

Skeptical at first, Sabom, along with psychiatric social worker Sarah Kreutziger, interviewed 116 persons over 5 years who had survived a near-death crisis defined as "any bodily state that caused physical unconsciousness and would reasonably be expected to result in irreversible biological death if urgent medical attention was not given." [14][15] Sixty - seven percent had experienced a cardiac arrest. A structured interview protocol, medical documentation, and statistical analysis of results were applied. [16]

Seventy - eight of the 116 near-death survivors were prospectively interviewed without the investigators' prior knowledge of a possible NDE. Forty - three percent of this group reported an NDE. The remaining 38 cases were referred with a previously known NDE.

Sabom classifies the NDE into three types: "autoscopic" (self-visualization from an elevated "out-of-body" perspective), "transcendental" (a sense of movement into an other-worldly environment), and "combined" (autoscopic followed by transcendental experience).

This book is notable for presenting the "first prospective study of the accuracy of out-of-body observations during near-death experiences." [17] [18] Physical unconsciousness and an isoelectric (flat) electroencephalogram (EEG) occur 10 to 20 seconds after cardiac arrest. [19] [20] [21] Sabom reports six autoscopic NDEs containing accurate, idiosyncratic "visual" details of events which occurred greater than 20 seconds following cardiac arrest, but before successful resuscitation.[22] He found no medical or psychological explanation for these findings.[23]

In 2010, philosophy professor Michael Marsh found Sabom's six cases "certainly worthy of attention and of serious thought.” However, "[w]ithout independent, dispassionate observations on whether patients' eyes were open, how long they remained conscious in their place of resuscitation before being moved elsewhere, how their level of consciousness fluctuated during the entire event, what their BIS [bispectral index score indicating level of consciousness and which came into use in the 1990s] might have been, and thus whether glimpses of the procedure, staff members, and general disposition of the apparatus could be taken in, even while subjects were not necessarily too aware of their surroundings, we will never be certain or convinced [that such veridical perception may occur during unconsciousness and an NDE]." [24] Another reviewer speculated that the "author's wish to believe may have colored his analysis." [10]

The second book, Light & Death, was released in 1998. Similarly to the first book, Sabom interviews 160 patients following near-death crises. Although it still retains some medical and scientific aspects, this book is written from a more religious (Christian) viewpoint. [25] The book is notable for reporting his investigation of the Pam Reynolds case, a case of a near- death experience that has received some media attention. [26] [27] [28] Sabom's work (particularly that involving Pam Reynolds) has been criticized by author Sam Harris for possible experimenter bias, unconscious witness tampering and false memories. [29]

Scientific consensus explaining the NDE has not been reached. [10] [30] [31] Sabom argues that apparent veridical perception from an extrasomatic location during an autoscopic NDE when the brain is severely impaired or unconscious raises the theological possibility [32] of a non-physical soul [33] separating from a dying physical body prior to final biological death. [34][35]

[36] [37] [38] [39]

References __________________________________________

1. through 6. Unchanged

7. Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology: < http://www.socphilpsych.org/ > . Retrieved March 15, 2020

8. Jacobs, Paul (March 29, 1982). "Near-Death Experiences: A Medical Debate over Body, Mind." < https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/389148970/ > Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

9. Ohlendorf, Pat (Sept. 20, 1982). Q & A: Michael Sabom, "Dead men telling tales." < https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1982/9/20/dead-men-telling-tales > Maclean's. pp T2 – T4. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

10. Hornbein, Thomas F. (1982). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (5): 324-325. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198207293070529 (https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJM198207293070529). ISSN 0028-4793 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0028-4793). Retrieved January 6, 2020.

11. Grosso, Michael (December 1981). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Perspective (by Michael B. Sabom)" (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc799213/m1/1/). Journal of Near-Death Studies. 1 (2). Retrieved January 6, 20212.

12. Recollections of Death < https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/mary-renault-8/recollections-of-death/ > Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1981. Retrieved February 26, 2020.

13. "Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (citations)" (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=15532816183644052519). Google Scholar. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

14. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 63.

15. Sabom, Michael (May 1980). "Commentary on 'The Reality of Death Experiences' by Ernst Rodin" < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7365488 > The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 168 (5): 266-267. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

16. Sabom, Michael (Nov 23, 1979). "The Near-Death Experience" < https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/370521 > The Journal of the American Medical Association. 244 (1): 29-30. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

17. Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014). "Near-Death Experiences: Evidence for Their Reality." < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172100/ > Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. 111 (5): 372-380. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

18. Ring, Kenneth and Lawrence, Madelaine (Summer 1993). "Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences" < newdualism.org/nde-papers/Ring/Ring-Journal of Near-Death Studies_1993-11-223-229.pdf >. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 11 (4): 224. Retrieved March 3, 2020.

19. de Vries, Jaap et. al. (July 1998) "Changes in Cerebral Oxygen Uptake and Cerebral Electrical Activity during Defibrillation Threshold Testing." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/1998/07000/Changes_in_Cerebral_Oxygen_Uptake_and_Cerebral.5.aspx >. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199807000-00005 Anesthesia & Analgesia. 87 (1): 16-20. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

20. Losasso Thomas, et.al. (Jan 1992) "Electroencephalographic monitoring of cerebral function during asystole and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Citation/1992/12000/Electroencephalographic_Monitoring_of_Cerebral.25.aspx > Anesthesia & Analgesia. 75 (6): 1021-1024. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

21. Parnia, S and Fenwick, P (2002) Near- death experiences in cardiac arrest: Visions of a dying brain or visions of a new science of consciousness." < www.horizonresearch.org/Uploads/resusrv.pdf > Resuscitation 52: 5-11. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

22. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 81 – 115.

23. Ibid., 151-178.

24. Marsh, Michael (2010). Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences: Brain-State Phenomena or Glimpses of Immortality? Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199571505. (https://www.worldcat.org/title/out-of-body-and-near-death-experiences-brain-state-phenomena-or-glimpses-of-immortality/oclc/699558416 ) 123 -126, 131-132, 260.

25. Gibbs, John (Winter 1999). "Book Review: Light & Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences (by Michael B. Sabom)" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc798967/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 18 (2). Retrieved January 11, 2020.

26. Broome, Kate (Producer). (2002) "The day I died: The mind, the brain, and near-death experiences." [Video]. A 14:46 minute excerpt posted August 16, 2016 by marius molac on Associated Press Video Archive and entitled "Pam Reynolds NDE/OBE Experience – from The day I died documentary." < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeyzQQNoAU >. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

27. Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (May 22, 2009). "Decoding the Mystery of Near-Death Experiences" < https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104397005 > NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

28. Brown, Bob (January 30, 2008) "Resuscitation Science: Is There a Third State of Being? ABCNews. < https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4179894&page=1 > Retrieved February 28, 2020.

29.Harris, Sam (2014 09-09). Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion (https://archive.org/details/wakingupguidetos0000harr) (hardcover) (1st ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451636017. OCLC 881518331 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881518331). p 174. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

30. van Lommel, Pim et.al. (Dec 15, 2001). "Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands" < https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673601071008/fulltext > The Lancet 358: 2039 – 2045. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

31. Greyson, Bruce, et.al. (2009) "Explanatory Models for Near-Death Experiences" in Holden Janice, Greyson Bruce, and James Debbie (Eds.), The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. < https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handbook_of_Near_death_Experiences.html?id=9MdUPgAACAAJ > Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: pp 213 – 234. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

32. see 2 Corinthians 12:1–4.

33. Moreland, JP (2014). The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why it Matters < https://www.worldcat.org/title/soul-how-we-know-its-real-and-why-it-matters/oclc/852658560 > Chicago: Moody Publishers. p 66. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

34. Lias, J.J. (1892). "The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians" in vol. 37 in The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges ed. J. S. Perowne < https://www.worldcat.org/title/second-epistle-of-paul-the-apostle-to-the-corinthians/oclc/876911072&referer=brief_results > London: Cambridge University Press. p 125. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

35. Buttrick, George, ed. (1951). The Interpreter's Bible, vol. 10 (Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians). < https://www.worldcat.org/title/interpreters-bible-v10-corinthians-galatians-and-ephesians/oclc/926760005&referer=brief_results >. New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press. Retrieved April 1, 2020

36. Stacey, W David (1956). The Pauline view of man: In relation to its Judaic and Hellenistic background. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/pauline-view-of-man-in-relation-to-its-judaic-and-hellenistic-background/oclc/246274179?referer=di&ht=edition > London: Macmillan. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

37. Groothuis, Douglas (1995). Deceived by the Light. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/deceived-by-the-light/oclc/31934375 > Eugene: Harvest House, p 160. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

38. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part One" < https:// www.equip.org/PDF/DD282-1.pdf > Christian Research Journal. 26 (2), 1-7. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

39. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part Two" < https://www.equip.org/article/the-shadow-of-death/ > Christian Research Journal. 26 (3), 42-51. Retrieved February 28, 2020.7300Mobas (talk) 22:50, 1 April 2020 (UTC)

CAREER: (CONTINUATION BEGINNING AT EXISTING REFERENCE 6)

Sabom is known for his work on near-death experiences (NDEs). He is a founding member of the International Association of Near-Death Studies [6] and has presented his research at national meetings including the American Psychological Association (twice), the American Psychiatric Association, and the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology.[7] He has written two books about NDEs which have been published in 12 languages.

The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982 and received some media attention.[8][9] It was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view. [10] [11] [12] It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works according to Google Scholar. [13]

Skeptical at first, Sabom, along with psychiatric social worker Sarah Kreutziger, interviewed 116 persons over 5 years who had survived a near-death crisis defined as "any bodily state that caused physical unconsciousness and would reasonably be expected to result in irreversible biological death if urgent medical attention was not given." [14][15] Sixty - seven percent had experienced a cardiac arrest. A structured interview protocol, medical documentation, and statistical analysis of results were applied. [16]

Seventy - eight of the 116 near-death survivors were prospectively interviewed without the investigators' prior knowledge of a possible NDE. Forty - three percent of this group reported an NDE. The remaining 38 cases were referred with a previously known NDE.

Sabom classifies the NDE into three types: "autoscopic" (self-visualization from an elevated "out-of-body" perspective), "transcendental" (a sense of movement into an other-worldly environment), and "combined" (autoscopic followed by transcendental experience).

This book is notable for presenting the "first prospective study of the accuracy of out-of-body observations during near-death experiences." [17] [18] Physical unconsciousness and an isoelectric (flat)

electroencephalogram (EEG) occur 10 to 20 seconds after cardiac 

arrest. [19] [20] [21] Sabom reports six autoscopic NDEs containing accurate, idiosyncratic "visual" details of events which occurred greater than 20 seconds following cardiac arrest, but before successful resuscitation.[22] He found no medical or psychological explanation for these findings.[23]

In 2010, philosophy professor Michael Marsh found Sabom's six cases "certainly worthy of attention and of serious thought.” However, "[w]ithout independent, dispassionate observations on whether patients' eyes were open, how long they remained conscious in their place of resuscitation before being moved elsewhere, how their level of consciousness fluctuated during the entire event, what their BIS [bispectral index score indicating level of consciousness and which came into use in the 1990s] might have been, and thus whether glimpses of the procedure, staff members, and general disposition of the apparatus could be taken in, even while subjects were not necessarily too aware of their surroundings, we will never be certain or convinced [that such veridical perception may occur during unconsciousness and an NDE]." [24] Another reviewer speculated that the "author's wish to believe may have colored his analysis." [10]

The second book, Light & Death, was released in 1998. Similarly to the first book, Sabom interviews 160 patients following near-death crises. Although it still retains some medical and scientific aspects, this book is written from a more religious (Christian) viewpoint. [25] The book is notable for reporting his investigation of the Pam Reynolds case, a case of a near- death experience that has received some media attention. [26] [27] [28] Sabom's work (particularly that involving Pam Reynolds) has been criticized by author Sam Harris for possible experimenter bias, unconscious witness tampering and false memories. [29]

Scientific consensus explaining the NDE has not been reached. [10] [30] [31] Sabom argues that apparent veridical perception from an extrasomatic location during an autoscopic NDE when the brain is severely impaired or unconscious raises the theological possibility of a non-physical soul separating from a dying physical body prior to final biological death. [32][33] Commenting on the Apostle Paul's experience in 2 Corinthians 12:1- 4, author and seminary professor Douglas Groothuis observes: "By allowing that he might have been out of the body at the time, Paul does grant the possibility of the soul leaving the body to be with God prior to irreversible, biological death." [34] Theologian and textual critic Henry Alford adds: "The apostle here by implication acknowledges the possibility of consciousness and receptivity [e.g., hearing and seeing] in a disembodied state." [35] Other Bible scholars agree. [36] [37] [38]

References __________________________________________

1. through 6. Unchanged

7. Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology: < http://www.socphilpsych.org/ > . Retrieved March 15, 2020

8. Jacobs, Paul (March 29, 1982). "Near-Death Experiences: A Medical Debate over Body, Mind." < https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/389148970/ > Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

9. Ohlendorf, Pat (Sept. 20, 1982). Q & A: Michael Sabom, "Dead men telling tales." < https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1982/9/20/dead-men-telling-tales > Maclean's. pp T2 – T4. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

10. Hornbein, Thomas F. (1982). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (5): 324-325. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198207293070529 (https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJM198207293070529). ISSN 0028-4793 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0028-4793). Retrieved January 6, 2020.

11. Grosso, Michael (December 1981). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Perspective (by Michael B. Sabom)" (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc799213/m1/1/). Journal of Near-Death Studies. 1 (2). Retrieved January 6, 20212.

12. Recollections of Death < https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/mary-renault-8/recollections-of-death/ > Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1981. Retrieved February 26, 2020.

13. "Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (citations)" (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=15532816183644052519). Google Scholar. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

14. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 63.

15. Sabom, Michael (May 1980). "Commentary on 'The Reality of Death Experiences' by Ernst Rodin" < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7365488 > The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 168 (5): 266-267. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

16. Sabom, Michael (Nov 23, 1979). "The Near-Death Experience" < https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/370521 > The Journal of the American Medical Association. 244 (1): 29-30. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

17. Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014). "Near-Death Experiences: Evidence for Their Reality." < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172100/ > Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. 111 (5): 372-380. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

18. Ring, Kenneth and Lawrence, Madelaine (Summer 1993). "Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences" < newdualism.org/nde-papers/Ring/Ring-Journal of Near-Death Studies_1993-11-223-229.pdf >. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 11 (4): 224. Retrieved March 3, 2020.

19. de Vries, Jaap et. al. (July 1998) "Changes in Cerebral Oxygen Uptake and Cerebral Electrical Activity during Defibrillation Threshold Testing." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/1998/07000/Changes_in_Cerebral_Oxygen_Uptake_and_Cerebral.5.aspx >. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199807000-00005 Anesthesia & Analgesia. 87 (1): 16-20. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

20. Losasso Thomas, et.al. (Jan 1992) "Electroencephalographic monitoring of cerebral function during asystole and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Citation/1992/12000/Electroencephalographic_Monitoring_of_Cerebral.25.aspx > Anesthesia & Analgesia. 75 (6): 1021-1024. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

21. Parnia, S and Fenwick, P (2002) Near- death experiences in cardiac arrest: Visions of a dying brain or visions of a new science of consciousness." < www.horizonresearch.org/Uploads/resusrv.pdf > Resuscitation 52: 5-11. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

22. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 81 – 115.

23. Ibid., 151-178.

24. Marsh, Michael (2010). Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences: Brain-State Phenomena or Glimpses of Immortality? Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199571505. (https://www.worldcat.org/title/out-of-body-and-near-death-experiences-brain-state-phenomena-or-glimpses-of-immortality/oclc/699558416 ) 123 -126, 131-132, 260.

25. Gibbs, John (Winter 1999). "Book Review: Light & Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences (by Michael B. Sabom)" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc798967/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 18 (2). Retrieved January 11, 2020.

26. Broome, Kate (Producer). (2002) "The day I died: The mind, the brain, and near-death experiences." [Video]. A 14:46 minute excerpt posted August 16, 2016 by marius molac on Associated Press Video Archive and entitled "Pam Reynolds NDE/OBE Experience – from The day I died documentary." < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeyzQQNoAU >. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

27. Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (May 22, 2009). "Decoding the Mystery of Near-Death Experiences" < https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104397005 > NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

28. Brown, Bob (January 30, 2008) "Resuscitation Science: Is There a Third State of Being? ABCNews. < https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4179894&page=1 > Retrieved February 28, 2020.

29.Harris, Sam (2014 09-09). Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion (https://archive.org/details/wakingupguidetos0000harr) (hardcover) (1st ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451636017. OCLC 881518331 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881518331). p 174. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

30. van Lommel, Pim et.al. (Dec 15, 2001). "Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands" < https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673601071008/fulltext > The Lancet 358: 2039 – 2045. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

31. Greyson, Bruce, et.al. (2009) "Explanatory Models for Near-Death Experiences" in Holden Janice, Greyson Bruce, and James Debbie (Eds.), The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. < https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handbook_of_Near_death_Experiences.html?id=9MdUPgAACAAJ > Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: pp 213 – 234. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

32. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part One" < https:// www.equip.org/PDF/DD282-1.pdf > Christian Research Journal. 26 (2), 1-7. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

33. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part Two" < https://www.equip.org/article/the-shadow-of-death/ > Christian Research Journal. 26 (3), 42-51. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

34. Groothuis, Douglas (1995). Deceived by the Light. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/deceived-by-the-light/oclc/31934375 > Eugene: Harvest House, p 160. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

35. Alford, Henry in Lias, J.J. (1892). "The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians" in vol. 37 in The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges ed. J. S. Perowne < https://www.worldcat.org/title/second-epistle-of-paul-the-apostle-to-the-corinthians/oclc/876911072&referer=brief_results > London: Cambridge University Press. p 125. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

36. Buttrick, George, ed. (1951). The Interpreter's Bible, vol. 10 (Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians). < https://www.worldcat.org/title/interpreters-bible-v10-corinthians-galatians-and-ephesians/oclc/926760005&referer=brief_results >. New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

37. Stacey, W David (1956). The Pauline view of man: In relation to its Judaic and Hellenistic background. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/pauline-view-of-man-in-relation-to-its-judaic-and-hellenistic-background/oclc/246274179?referer=di&ht=edition > London: Macmillan. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

38. Moreland, JP (2014). The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why it Matters < https://www.worldcat.org/title/soul-how-we-know-its-real-and-why-it-matters/oclc/852658560 > Chicago: Moody Publishers. p 66. Retrieved April 1, 2020. 7300Mobas (talk) 14:57, 2 April 2020 (UTC)

CAREER: (CONTINUATION BEGINNING AT EXISTING REFERENCE 6)

Sabom is known for his work on near-death experiences (NDEs). He is a founding member of the International Association of Near-Death Studies [6] and has presented his research at national meetings including the American Psychological Association (twice), the American Psychiatric Association, and the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology.[7] He has written two books about NDEs which have been published in 12 languages.

The first book, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, was released in 1982 and received some media attention.[8][9] It was positively received for providing a relatively objective and medicine-based point of view. [10] [11] [12] It has been cited over 800 times in scholarly works according to Google Scholar. [13]

Skeptical at first, Sabom, along with psychiatric social worker Sarah Kreutziger, interviewed 116 persons over 5 years who had survived a near-death crisis defined as "any bodily state that caused physical unconsciousness and would reasonably be expected to result in irreversible biological death if urgent medical attention was not given." [14][15] Sixty - seven percent had experienced a cardiac arrest. A structured interview protocol, medical documentation, and statistical analysis of results were applied. [16]

Seventy - eight of the 116 near-death survivors were prospectively interviewed without the investigators' prior knowledge of a possible NDE. Forty - three percent of this group reported an NDE. The remaining 38 cases were referred with a previously known NDE.

Sabom classifies the NDE into three types: "autoscopic" (self-visualization from an elevated "out-of-body" perspective), "transcendental" (a sense of movement into an other-worldly environment), and "combined" (autoscopic followed by transcendental experience).

This book is notable for presenting the "first prospective study of the accuracy of out-of-body observations during near-death experiences." [17] [18] Physical unconsciousness and an isoelectric (flat)

electroencephalogram (EEG) occur 10 to 20 seconds after cardiac 

arrest. [19] [20] [21] Sabom reports six autoscopic NDEs containing accurate, idiosyncratic "visual" details of events which occurred greater than 20 seconds following cardiac arrest, but before successful resuscitation.[22] He found no medical or psychological explanation for these findings.[23]

In 2010, philosophy professor Michael Marsh found Sabom's six cases "certainly worthy of attention and of serious thought.” However, "[w]ithout independent, dispassionate observations on whether patients' eyes were open, how long they remained conscious in their place of resuscitation before being moved elsewhere, how their level of consciousness fluctuated during the entire event, what their BIS [bispectral index score indicating level of consciousness and which came into use in the 1990s] might have been, and thus whether glimpses of the procedure, staff members, and general disposition of the apparatus could be taken in, even while subjects were not necessarily too aware of their surroundings, we will never be certain or convinced [that such veridical perception may occur during unconsciousness and an NDE]." [24] Another reviewer speculated that the "author's wish to believe may have colored his analysis." [10]

The second book, Light & Death, was released in 1998. Similarly to the first book, Sabom interviews 160 patients following near-death crises. Although it still retains some medical and scientific aspects, this book is written from a more religious (Christian) viewpoint. [25] The book is notable for reporting his investigation of the Pam Reynolds case, a case of a near- death experience that has received some media attention. [26] [27] [28] Sabom's work (particularly that involving Pam Reynolds) has been criticized by author Sam Harris for possible experimenter bias, unconscious witness tampering and false memories. [29] Anesthesiologist Gerald Woerlee claims "anesthesia awareness" played a role in Reynolds' report of her intraoperative NDE. [30]

Explanations for the NDE continue to be debated. [31] [32] In a review of Recollections of Death in The New England Journal of Medicine, anesthesiologist Thomas Hornbein writes:

Most intriguing to me are the out-of-body (autoscopic)

 	experiences during resuscitations from cardiac arrests, in   
       which detailed descriptions of events seem almost to

demand a ringside seat somewhere near the light fixture

	on the ceiling. .. .  [Sabom] systematically explores the
       possibility that these near- death experiences can be
       explained as products of a semiconscious state; of
       conscious or subconscious fabrication; of depersonalization;
       of hallucinations, delusions, or dreams with or without the
       assistance of a drug; of prior expectations; of endorphin 
       release; of temporal lobe seizures; or of an otherwise altered 
       state of consciousness . . . . [Sabom discounts] in turn each 
       possibility based on rational but inconclusive arguments . . . . 
       Here, where scientific analysis confronts the mystical and 
       religious aspects of dying, reasoned understanding is
       inadequate to the task. [10]

In 2001, cardiologist Pim van Lommel and colleagues reported in Lancet results of a study of 344 patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest. In the 62 patients reporting an NDE, these investigators, like Sabom, "did not show that psychological, neurophysiological, or physiological factors caused these experiences." [33]

From a theological standpoint, the apostle Paul describes an experience in 2 Corinthians 12:1- 4 during which he was "in the body or out of the body I do not know -- God knows." Although the circumstances surrounding this event are uncertain, consensus seemingly exists among several theological scholars on one important point: "By allowing that he might have been out of the body at the time, Paul does grant the possibility of the soul leaving the body to be with God prior to irreversible, biological death;" [34] "The apostle here by implication acknowledges the possibility of consciousness and receptivity [e.g.,hearing and seeing] in a disembodied state;" [35] " Plainly, though he [Paul] confesses that only God knows precisely what happened, he considers it possible for man's spirit to be temporarily withdrawn from his body even during the continuance of physical life;" [36] "It is clear that the subject-self can leave the body even in this life;" [37] and "Paul allows for the possibility of his own temporary disembodiment." [38]

According to Sabom, apparent veridical perception during an autoscopic NDE with a severely impaired or unconscious brain comports with the theological possibility of a non-physical soul [38] temporarily separating from a dying physical body. [39] [40] Once biological death has occurred, both science [41] [42] and theology [43] hold that without divine intervention, death becomes irreversible. Thus, the NDE, reported by millions of people, [44] may point to, but is not likely an experience of, life after (biological) death as claimed by some. [45] [46]

References

__________________________________________

1. through 6. Unchanged

7. Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology: < http://www.socphilpsych.org/ > . Retrieved March 15, 2020

8. Jacobs, Paul (March 29, 1982). "Near-Death Experiences: A Medical Debate over Body, Mind." < https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/389148970/ > Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

9. Ohlendorf, Pat (Sept. 20, 1982). Q & A: Michael Sabom, "Dead men telling tales." < https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1982/9/20/dead-men-telling-tales > Maclean's. pp T2 – T4. Retrieved March 10, 2020.

10. Hornbein, Thomas F. (1982). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (5): 324-325. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198207293070529 (https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJM198207293070529). ISSN 0028-4793 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0028-4793). Retrieved January 6, 2020.

11. Grosso, Michael (December 1981). "Book Review: Recollections of Death: A Medical Perspective (by Michael B. Sabom)" (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc799213/m1/1/). Journal of Near-Death Studies. 1 (2). Retrieved January 6, 2020.

12. Recollections of Death < https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/mary-renault-8/recollections-of-death/ > Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 1981. Retrieved February 26, 2020.

13. "Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation (citations)" (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=15532816183644052519). Google Scholar. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

14. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 63.

15. Sabom, Michael (May 1980). "Commentary on 'The Reality of Death Experiences' by Ernst Rodin" < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7365488 > The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 168 (5): 266-267. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

16. Sabom, Michael (Nov 23, 1979). "The Near-Death Experience" < https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/370521 > The Journal of the American Medical Association. 244 (1): 29-30. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

17. Long, Jeffrey (Sept-Oct 2014). "Near-Death Experiences: Evidence for Their Reality." < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172100/ > Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. 111 (5): 373. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

18. Ring, Kenneth and Lawrence, Madelaine (Summer 1993). "Further Evidence for Veridical Perception During Near-Death Experiences" < newdualism.org/nde-papers/Ring/Ring-Journal of Near-Death Studies_1993-11-223-229.pdf >. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 11 (4): 224. Retrieved March 3, 2020.

19. de Vries, Jaap et. al. (July 1998) "Changes in Cerebral Oxygen Uptake and Cerebral Electrical Activity during Defibrillation Threshold Testing." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/1998/07000/Changes_in_Cerebral_Oxygen_Uptake_and_Cerebral.5.aspx >. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199807000-00005 Anesthesia & Analgesia. 87 (1): 16-20. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

20. Losasso Thomas, et.al. (Jan 1992) "Electroencephalographic monitoring of cerebral function during asystole and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation." < https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Citation/1992/12000/Electroencephalographic_Monitoring_of_Cerebral.25.aspx > Anesthesia & Analgesia. 75 (6): 1021-1024. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

21. Parnia, S and Fenwick, P (2002) Near- death experiences in cardiac arrest: Visions of a dying brain or visions of a new science of consciousness." < www.horizonresearch.org/Uploads/resusrv.pdf > Resuscitation 52: 5-11. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

22. Sabom, Recollections of Death, 81 – 115.

23. Ibid., 151-178.

24. Marsh, Michael (2010). Out-of-Body and Near-Death Experiences: Brain-State Phenomena or Glimpses of Immortality? Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199571505. (https://www.worldcat.org/title/out-of-body-and-near-death-experiences-brain-state-phenomena-or-glimpses-of-immortality/oclc/699558416 ) 123 -126, 131-132, 260.

25. Gibbs, John (Winter 1999). "Book Review: Light & Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences (by Michael B. Sabom)" < https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc798967/m1/1/ > Journal of Near-Death Studies. 18 (2). Retrieved January 11, 2020.

26. Broome, Kate (Producer). (2002) "The day I died: The mind, the brain, and near-death experiences." [Video]. A 14:46 minute excerpt posted August 16, 2016 by marius molac on Associated Press Video Archive and entitled "Pam Reynolds NDE/OBE Experience – from The day I died documentary." < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeyzQQNoAU >. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

27. Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (May 22, 2009). "Decoding the Mystery of Near-Death Experiences" < https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104397005 > NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

28. Brown, Bob (January 30, 2008) "Resuscitation Science: Is There a Third State of Being? ABCNews. < https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4179894&page=1 > Retrieved February 28, 2020.

29.Harris, Sam (2014 09-09). Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion (https://archive.org/details/wakingupguidetos0000harr) (hardcover) (1st ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451636017. OCLC 881518331 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881518331). p 174. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

30. Woerlee, G.M. (2005) Mortal Minds: The Biology of Near-Death Experiences < https://www.worldcat.org/title/mortal-minds-the-biology-of-near-death-experiences/oclc/475247074&referer=brief_results > ISBN 1591022835. Prometheus Books: Amherst, New York. Retrieved April 7, 2020.

31. Greyson, Bruce, et.al. (2009) "Explanatory Models for Near-Death Experiences" in Holden Janice, Greyson Bruce, and James Debbie (Eds.), The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation. < https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handbook_of_Near_death_Experiences.html?id=9MdUPgAACAAJ > ISBN 9780313358654. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO: pp 213 – 234. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

32. Agrillo, Christian (2011). "Near-Death Experience: Out – of – Body and Out – of – Brain?" < https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232463289_Near-Death_Experience_Out-of-Body_and_Out-of-Brain > Review of General Psychology 15 (1): 1 – 10. Retrieved April 7, 2020.

33. van Lommel, Pim et.al. (Dec 15, 2001). "Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands" < https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673601071008/fulltext > The Lancet 358: 2039 – 2045. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

34. Groothuis, Douglas (1995). Deceived by the Light. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/deceived-by-the-light/oclc/31934375 > ISBN 1565073010. Eugene: Harvest House, p 160. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

35. Alford, Henry in Lias, J.J. (1892). "The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians" in vol. 37 in The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges ed. J. S. Perowne < https://www.worldcat.org/title/second-epistle-of-paul-the-apostle-to-the-corinthians/oclc/876911072&referer=brief_results > OCLC 759784698. London: Cambridge University Press. p 125. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

36. Buttrick, George, ed. (1951). The Interpreter's Bible, vol. 10 (Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians). < https://www.worldcat.org/title/interpreters-bible-v10-corinthians-galatians-and-ephesians/oclc/926760005&referer=brief_results > ISBN 0687192161 9780687192168. OCLC 855170890. New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

37. Stacey, W David (1956). The Pauline view of man: in relation to its Judaic and Hellenistic background. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/pauline-view-of-man-in-relation-to-its-judaic-and-hellenistic-background/oclc/246274179?referer=di&ht=edition > OCLC 59028293. London: Macmillan. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

38. Moreland, JP (2014). The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why it Matters < https://www.worldcat.org/title/soul-how-we-know-its-real-and-why-it-matters/oclc/852658560 > ISBN 9780802411006. Chicago: Moody Publishers. p 66. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

39. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part One" < https:// www.equip.org/PDF/DD282-1.pdf >Christian Research Journal. 26 (2), 1-7. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

40. Sabom, Michael (2003). "The Shadow of Death: Part Two" < https://www.equip.org/article/the-shadow-of-death/ > Christian Research Journal. 26 (3), 42-51. Retrieved February 28, 2020.

41. Shemie, Sam and Gardiner, Dale (2018). "Circulatory Arrest, Brain Arrest and Death Determination" < https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2018.00015/full > Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 5: 15. Retrieved April 7, 2020.

42. Dreier, Jens, et. al. (2018). "Terminal spreading depolarization and electrical silence in death of human cerebral cortex" < https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ana.25147 > Annals of Neurology. 83 (2): 295 – 310. Retrieved April 7, 2020.

43. See Job 14:11-12; Job 16:22; 2 Sam 12:23; 2 Sam 14:14; Eccl. 12: 6-7; Heb 9:27

44. Gallop, George Jr. (1982). Adventures in Immortality: A look beyond the threshold of death. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/adventures-in-immortality/oclc/8133409 > ISBN 0070227543. McGraw – Hill Book Company: New York., p 14. Retrieved April 8, 2020.

45. Piper, Don with Cecil Murphey (2004). 90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/90-minutes-in-heaven-a-true-story-of-death-life/oclc/62777929 > ISBN 9780800726805. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.

46. Burpo, Todd with Lynn Vincent (2010). Heaven is for Real: A little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. < https://www.worldcat.org/title/heaven-is-for-real-a-little-boys-astounding-story-of-his-trip-to-heaven-and-back/oclc/1122770346&referer=brief_results > ISBN 9781404175426. Nashville: Thomas Nelson 7300Mobas (talk) 12:58, 8 April 2020 (UTC)

Request new addition to the biography portion of Michael Sabom page. Thank you.

Sabom was featured in After Death (2023)- a documentary movie on near-death experiences. Whereas Variety's Owen Gleiberman criticized the movie's overall approach, he considered Sabom's contribution to be "the most pivotal" of "all the experts, authors, and researchers interviewed in the film" since he "offers his findings as hard-headed science and even encourages skepticism." [13]

13. Gleiberman, Owen (October 31, 2023). "'After Death' Review: A Faith-Based Documentary Pretends That the Afterlife Is Science". Variety. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023. 7300Mobas (talk) 18:04, 7 November 2023 (UTC)

Edit "Request new addition to biography portion. "

Sabom was featured in After Death (2023) - a movie on near-death experiences noted to be the "top faith-based documentary of all time." [14]

14. Movieguide (November 9, 2023). "After Death Achieves Top Faith-Based Documentary of All Time." https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/after-death-achieves-top-faith-based-documentary-of-all-time.html 7300Mobas (talk) 13:26, 23 January 2024 (UTC)

 Partly done 7300Mobas, I included a brief mention of After Death. Russ Woodroofe (talk) 14:47, 26 January 2024 (UTC)