A study of deathbed visions by Fenwick and Brayne (2011) looked at the affect of the deathbed visions on the dying and also on the relatives of the dying person.
Timing of Deathbed Visions
The study found that of the 39 out of 45 people who responded, 8% said the deathbed visions experiences had occurred more than a week before death, 26% within 7 days of death, 8% within 24 hours, but the majority of 54% occurred in the 12 hours before death.
The state of health of the person who experienced the deathbed vision was mentioned by the respondents as: 62% were dying, 9% had a severe illness but were not expected to die, and 14%, although ill, were not severely ill, and death was quite unexpected.
The final 14% had been in coma but aroused and had the experience during this brief period (referred to as terminal lucidity and is the sudden arousal from coma, Alzheimer disease, or confused mental state when the patient suddenly becomes alert and recognises the family or has an ecstatic vision. This change in mental state lasts only a minute or two and then the patient dies).
Comfort and Reassurance
Of the respondents, 33% found the experience was comforting and reassuring to the dying and 51% described the dying as being very happy to see their ‘visitor’. By rekindling their close connection to the vision, the dying could look forward to finding new meaning in death as they moved away from the pain and anxiety of illness and disease. This in turn provided comfort and hope to many relatives who witnessed the dying person make the transition from spiritual suffering to peace of mind.
Family members who witnessed these experiences also found them comforting – 45% reported the experience as comforting and reassuring, and 9% felt that it helped the dying person to let go of this life.
Cultural Influences
The UK sample of deathbed visions in the study confirmed an underlying cultural influence to the visions which the authors state as reflecting British society’s secular nature. Although 70% of the 31 who gave the information saw dead relatives or friends whose appearance helped to calm and ready the person for death, only 3% described angels and no other religious figures were seen.
Summary
The majority of witnesses were convinced that the experience was not only unequivocally real for the dying person but also helpful to everyone present, as it evoked a spiritual interconnectedness between life and death, suggesting a sense of onward journeying.
This prompted feelings of hope for relatives by lessening their fear of death as well as helping with their grieving process.
References:
A full list of references is available in the Reference Material section.
- Callanan, M. and Kelley, P. (1992) Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying. New York: Simon and Schuster Paperbacks
- Fenwick, P. and Brayne, S. (2011). End-of-life Experiences: Reaching Out for Compassion, Communication, and Connection – Meaning of Deathbed Visions and Coincidences. American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 28(1).
- Devery, K., Rawlings, D., Tieman, J., Damarell, R. (2015). Deathbed phenomena reported by patients in palliative care: clinical opportunities and responses. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 21(3).
