BMJ (1 November) 2003; 327:1048-1049  (Letter) 

Editor - I have always been concerned about predictions of death, a subject discussed by glare et al (1).  While in some cases predictions may be a boon to seriously ill people and their families, in other instances they may hasten death unnecessarily - particularly when given months and years in advance.Studies show that people can choose, to some degree, the timing of their death, as when there is a particular reason to go on living.  For example, people die more often after a major holiday than before (2).  In the literature on psychological treatments for cancer, when people fine a reason to live, their disease may even arrest or regress (3).On the opposite side, and here is my concern, there is the Musselman phenomenon (noted first in German concentration camps) of giving up and dying within hours (4).  By predicting a death, the doctor may, in effect, be "pointing the bone."  The literature on hex deaths points to the possibility that negative expectations may contribute to an early demise (5).  Negative effects of spiritual healing may also be activated in this way.  Shamanic literature has many case reports to this effect (5).So a caution to those who are in the position to be asked to predict people's deaths.  Every prediction is based on a probability.  A prediction can be stated as, "You have a 90% probability of dying in three months" or "You have a 10% probability of surviving in three months."  In the complementary, alternative healing community we add: "So why don't we see how we can help you be in the 10% group, if you'd like to work towards that goal."Daniel J. Benor, MD editorInternational Journal of Healing and Caring - On line (www.ijhc.org), PO Box 76, Bellmawr, NJ 08099, USA

DB@WholisticHealingResearch.com

Resources for exploring messages from your body

WHEE: Whole Health - Easily and Effectively^®
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  Potent self-healing method for releasing emotional and physical stress, pains, residues of traumas
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Resources for explaining the mind-body connection

 Benor, Daniel J. Healing Research, Volume II: (Professional edition)
Consciousness, Bioenergy and Healing, Bellmawr, NJ: Wholistic Healing Publications 2004. 
  Thorough review of research validating the efficacy of self-healing, wholistic complementary/ alternative medicine (CAM), biological  energies, and environmental interactions with bioenergies.
  “Book of the Year” award - The Scientific and Medical Network, UK
  Paperback, CD-ROM or e-Book of Consciousness, Bioenergy and Healing
    (15% author’s discount on V2. Professional edition paperback and CD-ROM worldwide, and free postage in the US)

Benor, Daniel J. Healing Research, Volume II: (Popular edition)
How Can I Heal What Hurts?  Wholistic Healing and Bioenergies,Bellmawr, NJ: Wholistic Healing Publications 2005 
  Popular edition Explains self-healing, wholistic complementary/ alternative medicine (CAM) and bioenergies, and discusses ways in which
     you can heal yourself.
      (15% author’s discount on V2. Popular edition paperback worldwide, and free postage in the US )

Develop and deepen your intuition and personal spirituality

Healing Research, V. 3
   Personal Spirituality: Science, Spirit and the Eternal Soul, Bellmawr, NJ: Wholistic Healing Publications (November 2006)
  
  Reaching Higher and Deeper
Workbook for Healing Research, Volume 3: Personal Spirituality:
   Bellmawr, NJ: Wholistic Healing Publications 2007   

You may quote part or all of this article if you include the following credits and email contact
Copyright © 2004 Daniel J. Benor, M.D. Reprinted with permission of the author, P.O. Box 76 Bellmawr, NJ 08099
www.WholisticHealingResearch.com   DB@WholisticHealingResearch.com