Deathbed phenomena and their effect on a palliative care team: A pilot study

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence suggests that death may be heralded by deathbed phenomena (DBP) such as visions that comfort the dying and prepare them spiritually for death. Medical practitioners have been slow to recognize DBP, and there has been little research into the spiritual effect that DBP have on caregivers or on how these phenomena influence their work. A pilot study looking into the occurrence of DBP was conducted by the palliative care team at Camden Primary Care Trust. Interviews revealed that patients regularly report these phenomena as an important part of their dying process, and that DBP are far broader than the traditional image of an apparition at the end of the bed. Results of the interviews raise concerns about the lack of education or training to help palliative care teams recognize the wider implications of DBP and deal with difficult questions or situations associated with them. Many DBP may go unreported because of this. Results of this pilot study also suggest that DBP are not drug-induced, and that patients would rather talk to nurses than doctors about their experiences.

Palliative-care professionals' experiences of unusual spiritual phenomena at the end of life

“…A broad range of terms have been adopted by researchers to refer to these experiences; "deathbed phenomena" (Brayne, Farnham, & Fenwick, 2006); "deathbed visions" , "deathbed coincidences" (Osis & Haraldsson, 1997); "nearing death awareness" (Callanan & Kelley, 1992); and "End-of-Life Experiences" (Fenwick, Lovelace, & Brayne, 2007). These phenomena have been reported both by those who are dying and also by those who are grieving (Fenwick, Lovelace & Brayne, 2010).…”

Erfahrungen am Lebensende: Eine Umfrage bei Ärzten und Pflegenden eines Spitals für anthroposophisch erweiterte Medizin

“…In Untersuchungen aus England fanden es viele der befragten Ärzte und Pflegefachpersonen außerdem schwierig, mit Patienten und Angehörigen sowie untereinander über ELE zu sprechen [2,4,13]. Die meisten der Pflegefachpersonen bedauerten das Fehlen einer vertieften ELE-Ausbildung und hätten ein ELE-Modul in ihrer Ausbildung begrüßt [4,21]. Das war auch bei unseren Befragten der Fall, wobei zu beachten ist, dass die Ausbildung der meisten Befragten schon viele Jahre zurücklag (im Median 23 Jahre; Tab.…”

Factores de personalidad, perceptuales y cognitivas asociadas con las experiencias anómalo/paranormales en personal de enfermería

“…a ellos mismos y a sus familiares. Otros describen ver luces asociadas a sentimientos de amor y compasión y amor, cambios en la temperatura ambiente, relojes que se detienen en la casa en sincronía con la muerte de un pariente hospitalizado, relatos de nubes, vapores, y formas alrededor del cuerpo del paciente terminal, y aves, moscas o animales que aparecen y luego desaparecen 8,9 . En un estudio reciente con enfermeras 7 , encontramos que el 54% indicó haber tenido estas experiencias, pero no estaban asociadas al estrés laboral.…”