A deathbed vision (DBV) is a comforting experience the dying and their family members have. The dying report visions of angels, deceased loved ones, religious figures or visions of other worlds. These can occur moments, hours, days or weeks before actual death takes place.
The visions typically lessen the fear of death for the dying and their family members. Thus, deathbed visions have the purpose of easing the transition for the dying and their family. They are therefore harbingers of impending death for the dying, but also guarantors of a safe passage.
These visions are sometimes dismissed as the by-product of a dying brain or medication. However, this cannot completely explain the deathbed vision and also takes away from the significance of the vision for the dying and their family. Osis and Haraldsson (1977) found that deathbed patients see visions when fully conscious and having proper awareness and capability. They also found that the visions had an external origin rather than being projections of wishful thoughts or unfulfilled desires.
In this presentation, Professor Haraldsson discusses his research study in which 400 physicians and nurses reported observations of dying patients who told of visions of deceased relatives or angelic beings shortly before they died. This occurred independent of the medical condition of the patient, and factors which may lead to hallucinations.
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.
- Osis, K and Haraldsson, E. (1977) At the Hour of Death. 3rd ed. Norwalk, CT: Hastings House.
- Wills-Brandon, C. (2000) One Last Hug Before I Go – The Mystery and Meaning of Deathbed Visions. Florida: Health Communications, Inc.
