Guidelines and standards for the study of death and recalled experiences of death––a multidisciplinary consensus statement and proposed future directions
Sam Parnia, Stephen G. Post, Matthew T. Lee, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Tom P. Aufderheide, Charles D. Deakin, Bruce Greyson, Jeffrey D. Long, Anelly M. Gonzales, Elise L. Huppert, Analise Dickinson, Stephan A. Mayer, Briana Locicero, Jeff Levin, Anthony P. Bossis, Everett L. Worthington, Peter Fenwick, Tara Keshavarz Shirazi
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences February 18, 2022 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14740 via OpenAlex
Summary
Advances in stem cell research, neuroscience, and resuscitation science have enabled scientific insights into what happens to the human brain in relation to death. Brain cells are more resilient to anoxia than previously assumed, becoming irreversibly damaged over hours to days postmortem. Resuscitation science has restored life to millions after cardiac arrest, and survivors describe a universal set of recollections related to death. This review examines death, recalled experiences during cardiac arrest, post-intensive care syndrome, and related phenomena, discussing potential mechanisms, ethical implications, and methodological considerations. It also addresses controversies in studying consciousness and recalled experiences of cardiac arrest and death in comatose subjects to standardize future research.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Multidisciplinary approach Coma optics Relation database Statement logic |
| Citations | 68 |
| Key finding | Brain cells are more resilient to anoxia than assumed, dying over hours to days postmortem, and survivors of cardiac arrest describe universal recollections related to death. |
Abstract
An inadvertent consequence of advances in stem cell research, neuroscience, and resuscitation science has been to enable scientific insights regarding what happens to the human brain in relation to death. The scientific exploration of death is in large part possible due to the recognition that brain cells are more resilient to the effects of anoxia than assumed. Hence, brain cells become irreversibly damaged and "die" over hours to days postmortem. Resuscitation science has enabled life to be restored to millions of people after their hearts had stopped. These survivors have described a unique set of recollections in relation to death that appear universal. We review the literature, with a focus on death, the recalled experiences in relation to cardiac arrest, post-intensive care syndrome, and related phenomena that provide insights into potential mechanisms, ethical implications, and methodologic considerations for systematic investigation. We also identify issues and controversies related to the study of consciousness and the recalled experience of cardiac arrest and death in subjects who have been in a coma, with a view to standardize and facilitate future research.