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{{Short description|Dutch cardiologist (born 1943)}}
{{POV|date=February 2018|reason=Criticism is legitimate and sourced, but hard to follow, because the material that is criticized has not been introduced sufficiently. General data about the subject's opinions needs to be given first.}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Pim van Lommel
| name = Pim van Lommel
| image = Pim van Lommel-1.jpg
| image = Pim van Lommel-1.jpg
| caption = Pim van Lommel
| caption = Pim van Lommel in 2012
| birth_name = Pim van Lommel
| birth_name = Pim van Lommel
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|03|15|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|03|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Laren, North Holland]]
| birth_place = [[Laren, North Holland]]
| residence =
| residence =
| nationality = [[Dutch people|Dutch]] {{flagicon|Netherlands}}
| nationality = [[Dutch people|Dutch]]
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
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}}
}}


'''Pim van Lommel''' (born 15 March 1943) is a [[Dutch people|Dutch]] author and researcher in the field of [[near-death studies]]. He studied [[medicine]] at [[Utrecht University]], specializing in [[cardiology]]. He worked as a cardiologist at the Rijnstate Hospital, [[Arnhem]], for 26 years (1977-2003).
'''Pim van Lommel''' (born 15 March 1943) is a [[Dutch people|Dutch]] author and researcher in the field of [[near-death studies]].

== Education and career ==

He studied [[medicine]] at [[Utrecht University]], specializing in [[cardiology]]. He worked as a cardiologist at the Rijnstate Hospital, [[Arnhem]], for 26 years (1977-2003).<ref name="van Lommel">van Lommel, Pim. Getting Comfortable With Near-Death Experiences. Dutch Prospective Research on Near-Death Experiences During Cardiac Arrest. ''Missouri Medicine'', March/April 2014, 111:2, 131</ref><ref>Findings from Rijnstate Hospital Advance Knowledge in Heart Attack. ''Cardiovascular Week'' via NewsRx.com, Dec. 5, 2011.</ref> In 1988 he launched a prospective study of near-death experiences that spanned 10 Dutch hospitals. 344 survivors of cardiac arrest were included in the study. In 2001, his large-scaled prospective study of near-death experiences after cardiac arrest was published in the medical journal ''[[The Lancet]]''.<ref name=":0">Lommel, Pim van, Ruud van Wees, Vincent Meyers, and Ingrid Elfferich. “Near-Death Experience in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest: A Prospective Study in the Netherlands.” ''The Lancet'' 358, no. 9298 (December 15, 2001): 2039–2045.</ref> In 2007, the first (Dutch) edition of his bestseller ''Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience'', was published.<ref name=":1">Lommel, Pim van. ''Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience''. New York: HarperOne, 2011.</ref><ref name="van Lommel"/>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==


Neurobiologist [[Dick Swaab]] praised Lommel's research for mapping patients experiences and opening up the subject of near-death experiences (NDE's) to the medical world. But he also claimed that Lommel's book ignores scientific knowledge, including some conclusions from his own research. He further argued that Lommel does not refute neurobiological explanations, gives no scientific basis for his statements and borrows concepts from [[Quantum mechanics|quantum physics]] without ground ([[Quantum mysticism]]). According to Swaab, Van Lommel deviates from the scientific approach and his book can only be categorized as [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]].<ref>Swaab, Dick. (2014). [https://books.google.com/books/about/We_Are_Our_Brains.html?id=DA1PAgAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y "We Are Our Brains: From the Womb to Alzheimer's"]. "However, he should not fool people by giving his book the subtitle The Science of the Near-Death Experience. Nor should he, a doctor, frighten off potential organ donors with his completely unscientific theories."</ref>
Neurobiologist [[Dick Swaab]] praised van Lommel's research for mapping patients’ experiences and opening up the subject of [[near-death experience]]s (NDEs) to the medical world. But he also claimed that Lommel's book ignores scientific knowledge, including some conclusions from his own research. He further argued that van Lommel does not refute neurobiological explanations,{{explain |date=March 2020}} gives no scientific basis for his statements and borrows concepts from [[Quantum mechanics|quantum physics]] without ground ([[quantum mysticism]]). According to Swaab, Van Lommel deviates from the scientific approach and ''Consciousness Beyond Life'' can only be categorized as [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]].<ref>Swaab, Dick. (2014).[https://books.google.com/books?id=DA1PAgAAQBAJ "We Are Our Brains: From the Womb to Alzheimer's"]. "However, he should not fool people by giving his book the subtitle The Science of the Near-Death Experience. Nor should he, a doctor, frighten off potential organ donors with his completely unscientific theories."</ref>


⚫
Jason Braithwaite, a senior lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience in the Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, [[University of Birmingham]], issued an in-depth analysis and critique of van Lommel's prospective study published in the medical journal ''The Lancet'', concluding that while Lommel's et al. study makes a useful contribution, it contains several factual and logical errors. Among these errors are van Lommel's misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the dying-brain hypothesis, misunderstandings over the role of anoxia, misplaced confidence in EEG measurements (a flat electroencephalogram (EEG) reading is not evidence of total brain inactivity), etc. Jason concluded with, "it is difficult to see what one could learn from the paranormal survivalist position which sets out assuming the truth of that which it seeks to establish, makes additional and unnecessary assumptions, misrepresents the current state of knowledge from mainstream science, and appears less than comprehensive in its analysis of the available facts."<ref>Braithwaite, J. J. (2008). [http://www.critical-thinking.org.uk/paranormal/near-death-experiences/the-dying-brain.php "Near Death Experiences: The Dying Brain"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224947/http://www.critical-thinking.org.uk/paranormal/near-death-experiences/the-dying-brain.php |date=2014-03-12 }}. Skeptic. Volume 21, Number 2. Retrieved 2014-07-12.</ref>
Dutch [[physician]] and [[anesthesiologist]] G. M. Woerlee wrote a chapter by chapter examination of Lommel's ''Consciousness Beyond Life''. According to Woerlee the book is full of "tendentious and suggestive pseudoscientific nonsense", and the picture of the functioning of the body as proposed by Lommel is not consistent with medical knowledge. Woerlee concluded that the book is a "masterly example of how tendentious and suggestive interpretation of international scientific literature, vague presentation of basic medical facts, together with ignorance of some basic statistical principles leads to incorrect conclusions."<ref>Woerlee, G. M. (2011). [http://neardth.com/consciousness-beyond-life.php "Review of Consciousness Beyond Life by Pim van Lommel"]. Retrieved 2014-07-12.</ref>


⚫
In his book<ref name=":1" /> van Lommel also supported alleged [[psychic]] abilities of some NDErs. In a review, skeptic Donna Harris wrote the research was unreliable as it was taken from self-reported surveys and interviews and "since any type of paranormal or intuitive power remains unproven, it is troubling that the author doesn’t question these abilities, and just includes them as accepted facts."<ref>[http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/10-08-11/ "Broadcasting from the Great Beyond a book review by Donna Harris"]. Retrieved 2014-07-12.</ref>
⚫
Jason Braithwaite, a Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience in the Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, [[University of Birmingham]], issued an in-depth analysis and critique of Lommel's prospective study published in the medical journal ''The Lancet'', concluding that while Lommel's et al. study makes a useful contribution, it contains several factual and logical errors. Among these errors are Lommel's misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the dying-brain hypothesis, misunderstandings over the role of anoxia, misplaced confidence in EEG measurements (a flat electroencephalogram (EEG) reading is not evidence of total brain inactivity), etc. Jason concluded with, "it is difficult to see what one could learn from the paranormal survivalist position which sets out assuming the truth of that which it seeks to establish, makes additional and unnecessary assumptions, misrepresents the current state of knowledge from mainstream science, and appears less than comprehensive in its analysis of the available facts."<ref>Braithwaite, J. J. (2008). [http://www.critical-thinking.org.uk/paranormal/near-death-experiences/the-dying-brain.php "Near Death Experiences: The Dying Brain"]. Skeptic. Volume 21, Number 2. Retrieved 2014-07-12.</ref>


In a 2019 interview van Lommel declared the medical definition of consciousness shall be discussed another time: "All these patients with this enhanced consciousness, with this near-death experience, with cognition, with emotions, with clear thoughts, with memories, happens during the period of a non-functioning brain. So the concept we had learned should be discussed again. And my opinion now is that consciousness is not localized in the brain and the brain has a ''facilitating'' function and not a ''producing'' function to experience consciousness."<ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=590&v=RmTiYxoHa0c|title=Dying and afterlife: what a cardiologist has researched (An Interview with Pim van Lommel)|location=Velp|date=May 30, 2019|publisher=Thanatos TV}} (at minute 10:00)</ref>
⚫
In his book Lommel also supported alleged [[psychic]] abilities of some NDErs. Skeptic Donna Harris in a review for the book wrote the research was unreliable as it was taken from self-reported surveys and interviews and "since any type of paranormal or intuitive power remains unproven, it is troubling that the author doesn’t question these abilities, and just includes them as accepted facts."<ref>[http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/10-08-11/ "Broadcasting from the Great Beyond a book review by Donna Harris"]. Retrieved 2014-07-12.</ref>


== Publications ==
== Publications ==
Line 44: Line 50:


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* G. M. Woerlee. (2014). [http://neardth.com/setting-the-record-straight.php "Setting the Record Straight: Commentary on an article by Pim van Lommel"]. Retrieved 2014-07-12.


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [http://www.pimvanlommel.nl/?home_eng Personal website]
* [https://pimvanlommel.nl/en/ Personal website]
* [http://www.e-ostadelahi.com/eoe-en/consciousness-and-near-death-experiences-pim-van-lommel/ Consciousness and near-death experiences – Pim van Lommel, M.D.] Article and video interview on [http://www.e-ostadelahi.com e-ostadelahi.com]
* [http://www.e-ostadelahi.com/eoe-en/consciousness-and-near-death-experiences-pim-van-lommel/ Consciousness and near-death experiences – Pim van Lommel, M.D.] Article and video interview on [http://www.e-ostadelahi.com e-ostadelahi.com]
* [http://www.pimvanlommel.nl/?home Dutch homepage]
* [http://www.pimvanlommel.nl/?home Dutch homepage]
{{Parapsychology}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lommel, Pim Van}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lommel, Pim Van}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dutch cardiologists]]
[[Category:Dutch cardiologists]]
[[Category:Near-death experiences]]
[[Category:Near-death experience researchers]]
[[Category:Parapsychologists]]
[[Category:Parapsychologists]]
[[Category:People from Laren, North Holland]]
[[Category:People from Laren, North Holland]]

Latest revision as of 20:24, 9 September 2024

Pim van Lommel
Pim van Lommel in 2012
Born
Pim van Lommel

(1943-03-15) 15 March 1943 (age 81)
Laren, North Holland
NationalityDutch
BildungMedicine
Alma materUtrecht University
Known forNear-death experiences
Scientific career
FieldsCardiology
InstitutionsRijnstate Hospital

Pim van Lommel (born 15 March 1943) is a Dutch author and researcher in the field of near-death studies.

Education and career

[edit]

He studied medicine at Utrecht University, specializing in cardiology. He worked as a cardiologist at the Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, for 26 years (1977-2003).[1][2] In 1988 he launched a prospective study of near-death experiences that spanned 10 Dutch hospitals. 344 survivors of cardiac arrest were included in the study. In 2001, his large-scaled prospective study of near-death experiences after cardiac arrest was published in the medical journal The Lancet.[3] In 2007, the first (Dutch) edition of his bestseller Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience, was published.[4][1]

Reception

[edit]

Neurobiologist Dick Swaab praised van Lommel's research for mapping patients’ experiences and opening up the subject of near-death experiences (NDEs) to the medical world. But he also claimed that Lommel's book ignores scientific knowledge, including some conclusions from his own research. He further argued that van Lommel does not refute neurobiological explanations,[further explanation needed] gives no scientific basis for his statements and borrows concepts from quantum physics without ground (quantum mysticism). According to Swaab, Van Lommel deviates from the scientific approach and Consciousness Beyond Life can only be categorized as pseudoscientific.[5]

Jason Braithwaite, a senior lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience in the Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, University of Birmingham, issued an in-depth analysis and critique of van Lommel's prospective study published in the medical journal The Lancet, concluding that while Lommel's et al. study makes a useful contribution, it contains several factual and logical errors. Among these errors are van Lommel's misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the dying-brain hypothesis, misunderstandings over the role of anoxia, misplaced confidence in EEG measurements (a flat electroencephalogram (EEG) reading is not evidence of total brain inactivity), etc. Jason concluded with, "it is difficult to see what one could learn from the paranormal survivalist position which sets out assuming the truth of that which it seeks to establish, makes additional and unnecessary assumptions, misrepresents the current state of knowledge from mainstream science, and appears less than comprehensive in its analysis of the available facts."[6]

In his book[4] van Lommel also supported alleged psychic abilities of some NDErs. In a review, skeptic Donna Harris wrote the research was unreliable as it was taken from self-reported surveys and interviews and "since any type of paranormal or intuitive power remains unproven, it is troubling that the author doesn’t question these abilities, and just includes them as accepted facts."[7]

In a 2019 interview van Lommel declared the medical definition of consciousness shall be discussed another time: "All these patients with this enhanced consciousness, with this near-death experience, with cognition, with emotions, with clear thoughts, with memories, happens during the period of a non-functioning brain. So the concept we had learned should be discussed again. And my opinion now is that consciousness is not localized in the brain and the brain has a facilitating function and not a producing function to experience consciousness."[8]

Publications

[edit]
  • Van Lommel, P., van Wees, R., Meyers, V. and Elfferich, I. (2001) Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands. Lancet 358: 2039-2045.
  • Van Lommel, P. (2004). About the continuity of our consciousness. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 550: 115-132.
  • Van Lommel, P. (2006). Near-Death Experience, Consciousness and the Brain. A new concept about the continuity of our consciousness based on recent scientific research on near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest. World Futures, The Journal of General Evolution 62: 134-152.
  • Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience (2010, 2011)
  • Van Lommel, P. (2011). Near-death experiences: the experience of the self as real and not as an illusion. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1234: 19-28.
  • Van Lommel, P. (2013). Nonlocal Consciousness. A concept based on scientific research on near-death experiences during cardiac arrest. Journal of Consciousness Studies 20: 7-48.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b van Lommel, Pim. Getting Comfortable With Near-Death Experiences. Dutch Prospective Research on Near-Death Experiences During Cardiac Arrest. Missouri Medicine, March/April 2014, 111:2, 131
  2. ^ Findings from Rijnstate Hospital Advance Knowledge in Heart Attack. Cardiovascular Week via NewsRx.com, Dec. 5, 2011.
  3. ^ Lommel, Pim van, Ruud van Wees, Vincent Meyers, and Ingrid Elfferich. “Near-Death Experience in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest: A Prospective Study in the Netherlands.” The Lancet 358, no. 9298 (December 15, 2001): 2039–2045.
  4. ^ a b Lommel, Pim van. Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience. New York: HarperOne, 2011.
  5. ^ Swaab, Dick. (2014)."We Are Our Brains: From the Womb to Alzheimer's". "However, he should not fool people by giving his book the subtitle The Science of the Near-Death Experience. Nor should he, a doctor, frighten off potential organ donors with his completely unscientific theories."
  6. ^ Braithwaite, J. J. (2008). "Near Death Experiences: The Dying Brain" Archived 2014-03-12 at the Wayback Machine. Skeptic. Volume 21, Number 2. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  7. ^ "Broadcasting from the Great Beyond a book review by Donna Harris". Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  8. ^ Dying and afterlife: what a cardiologist has researched (An Interview with Pim van Lommel). Velp: Thanatos TV. May 30, 2019. (at minute 10:00)
[edit]
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