Near Death in the ICU - Paperback

by Laurin Bellg (Author)

Near-death experiences are often profoundly meaningful, yet when they are reported they are often met with skepticism and dismissal. But do we have to fully understand these events to honor the transformative role they can play in the lives of those who experience them? Do we need to prove they are something more than the result of illness, medication, or a brain under duress to acknowledge their power to impact lives in a positive way? In this book, a seasoned critical care physician takes on the head-scratching phenomenon of the near-death experience and makes a case for not only listening to but acknowledging and helping the experiencer integrate this poorly understood phenomenon of consciousness into their care. Through anecdotal accounts and thoughtful commentary, Dr. Bellg offers her thoughts on what the near-death experience could be but more importantly, how it can be used as a powerful tool toward meaningful change.

Author Biography

For nearly twenty years, Dr. Laurin Bellg has been present at the bedside of critically ill and dying patients. As she has worked to create an accepting and supportive relationship with them, her patients have shared with her the mysterious experiences they sometimes have during moments of crisis of apparently seeing beyond our physical world. In telling their engaging, powerful and sometimes humorous stories, Dr. Bellg invites the reader to consider that bearing witness to a patient's near-death experience is a respectful and meaningful part of medical care, a way for families to support their loved ones, and an important part of the patient's healing.