A General Critique of Flawed Methodologies in NDE Studies

Research into near-death experiences (NDEs) faces significant methodological challenges that parallel those encountered in studies on extrasensory perception (ESP). Even in the absence of genuine paranormal phenomena, responses can appear extraordinary due to chance alone — much like a student achieving a satisfactory score on a multiple-choice test through random guessing. When selective reporting and confirmation bias come into play, the illusion of a mysterious effect is amplified.

Personal Context

My interest in this subject stems from a deeply personal experience. In 2013, my wife was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, and she lived for another two years before passing away in 2015. During this challenging time, I developed a keen interest in NDE studies, consuming much of the available literature. The reports I read seemed convincing, leading me to engage in a prolonged debate with a physicist. Although both of us were skeptics, I found myself inclined to believe there was something paranormal at work, while my opponent dismissed the claims as nonsense.

More recently, I revisited this topic when a Buddhist shared a YouTube video suggesting that NDE studies support the notion that consciousness can exist independently of the physical body. This rekindled my interest, prompting me to…