Touching Heaven A Cardiologist’s Encounters with Death and Living Proof of an Afterlife by Dr Chauncey

Touching Heaven A Cardiologist’s Encounters with Death and Living Proof of an Afterlife by Dr Chauncey, New York: 2015 I just completed reading Touching Heaven and I am somewhat stumped. I actually don’t know what to think. Years ago I read a book which really impacted me because it was about a cardiologist who didn’t believe in God but he had so many patients who managed to survive and from what they told him of their death experiences, he began to have a different view. How can your patients tell you exactly what is happening in an operating room when they are completely out and die, only to be revived but not conscious? What they told this doctor had him re-examine his non belief in God. I am not sure if it is the same cardiologist so I am going to have to read his other two books to figure that one out. I remember talking about this book I am thinking about in grad school. The prof was interested and asked me to let him know if I ever recall the title again. Every once in a while you may read something that really impacts you and that was that book, I read so many years ago. How I lost it, is unknown. I have travelled much in my day and it may have got lost in my transfers. I keep my library to a bare minimum nowadays and normally give my books away unless I need it for work or it means something special to me. How many American cardiologists write books of their patients who have experienced death? I did find this book very preachy. There are quotations of the Bible I think the evangelical reader would appreciate. I have heard some of these stories myself, such as someone being very ill in the hospital and they believe a guardian angel sat with them through their ordeal. Dr Chauncey reports, “Over the years, numerous people have spoken of seeing angels or being ministered to by them- this is fairly frequent. Many have reported feeling surrounded by an otherworldly peace or kindness; some have talked of being drawn toward a light or a tunnel; and a lot of my patients have seen dead family members or friends. They report such instances more often than you would think too, probably in over half of the cases. It is common for people who have had out-of-body experiences to see their surviving loved ones crying or praying in other rooms, and to be able to tell you which rooms, even if they’ve never been in our hospital before.”p 81. Reading his book about how he openly prays with his patients surprises me. Not because he is praying with them, because I know it happens here too that physicians pray with their patients, but because of the intensity. What this also tells me is how more open Americans may be to religion and spirituality. That is only an opinion. I wonder if Dr Chauncey was working in Canada if he would have problems because he does not separate his beliefs and prayers from his practice? As I read his book, I sometimes thought how far fetched this all seemed to me and had to ask myself why? I consider myself very open minded. However, I also appreciate understanding something from another dimension in scientific terms. I did only one internship in a hospital and I became quite aware that things occur that do not make sense. Since, I have heard people who struggle with serious illnesses seeing their dead family members. I believe them. However, I do not quite understand it. Dr Chauncey seems to have found the answers in the bible. It is working well for him and he has helped many people. Now, though I am confused by this book, perhaps because there is so much preaching, I will find and read his other two books to determine if this is the same Cardiologist whose earlier written book is the same that I read so many years ago. In the mean time, this Cardiologist could operate on my heart if I ever needed it because his faith is so profound and his years of experience is impressive. What do you think?

Two day PTSD Work shop inspired thoughts

It is a busy month and I will be attending several seminars, meetings etc…never forgetting to play. I enjoyed the two day work shop which also provided education hours which I need for my profession. Even if it was not required, I think it is important to always keep up. I spend time reading for fun but also make sure that I read for my work. I am always researching for what I am working with. I constantly search for support groups for clients and am always surprised when I cannot find what I am looking for. If you are living in Toronto and need a support group that you cannot find, please contact me so we can start one if it is required. In todays society especially in Toronto, there should never be a lack of support. If someone is struggling with “complicated” grief as an example, group therapy is not practical. What is required there is one to one therapy. I enjoyed this two day event because there were professionals, volunteers, and workers from various arenas. It offered me the opportunity to see how others practice and support those who use their services. I did pick up a few pointers and refreshed my memory in some areas. One thing I am beginning to see and it is probably due to all the media attention to PTSD is that more people think they can identify PTSD and more people think they have PTSD when it probably is not quite there. You can look up the symptoms of PTSD in the DSM. A Psychological or psychiatric assessment is probably best if you believe you have PTSD. I remember in my undergrad first psychology class, the professor warned us about being careful and aware not to diagnose ourselves as believing we had all the symptoms we were studying. He compared it to medical students who begin to see the symptoms of various medical conditions in themselves. So, keep that in mind. Also, well meaning friends may always try to diagnose you because they have read a book or article about this or that. This is called naive psychology. Another thing I am noticing is people misinterpreting PTSD in others when it is an awareness of their surroundings or reaction of their surrounding because of their training. Emergency personnel who have witnessed many accidents may drive more defensively as every one probably should but don’t. There is an awareness but not a crippling one. People who have worked with those attacked may be more aware of their surroundings because of their training and experience with survivors. What is best is to see a professional if you are not feeling joy, isolating yourself, feeling suicidal etc….Also, if you are not pleased with the person you are seeing, please continue with another, until you feel comfortable with someone. Ensure that they are professionals and registered with a regulated body, so you have a recourse if the experience is unethical. Today is Pet day, so if you have a pet, why not give him or her a big kiss, or a nice treat! Have a nice week, be kind to yourself and if your soul is not at peace, try to find yourself some peace, fun and re-energize. We need people; real ones so go out and socialize, even if it is baby steps. What do you think?

Process of Science - Scientific Method (all sciences)

There is a process to science. There is an observation process From that there is a hypothesis which is testable There is a theory - predict new observations Predict new observations; replacing all theories with new theories. Consider: A professor in Economics observes the distribution of motor vehicles at a university There are Chevrolets, Toyotas and Buicks Study: pick an intersection eg. Keele and Finch. This represents Canada Society. There are factories, different types of housing, students etc….. Demographics: Canadian. From 2 to 3pm Tuesday afternoon - exact number of vehicles that pass through, make and year. Four teams observation, Scaffold at each corner; video on top - electrical switch between times. Then take the tapes - Four independent graders for each tape - compile list of make/year. Correlation 1.00 with each group. This would be a scientific study. There is no law of nature of cars passing. eg. a doctor’s appointment. It is a random process (not rush hour). So it must be 1. Methodological 2. Phenomena - obey natural law Structure of Scientific knowledge acting strange - symptoms - Schizophrenic F=m a (m - how much material mass in object - can measure). _a- acceleration - change in speed divide by change in time. eg. 0-100 in 4.5 seconds sports cars - acceleration. Eg. Throw ball - would travel forever except there is a force called gravity - ball up - earth pulls down - need force to start/end or will continue. Basic rule of Neuton. Empirical Approach ___________fire ____________water each will find its’ own sphere. Scale between us and earth - mass not identified - if on the moon weight is less. ^ speed - change ^ distance 60Km ———————————— change , ^ time Therefore, Newton defined motion of force - multiplication F= ma Physics m ^ distance ____________ ^ time _______________ ^time work = F (force) x D (distance) w __ = P (Power) T (time) Science is not only empirical. It obeys the natural law but also 3. Reductionistic Language - measurement qualities of physical world. No explanation in Piaget’s scheme. Biology /Ecosystem >various organisms chemistry / organ systems > cells physics / macromolecules > molecules /atoms > sub atomic particles Some state that psychologists cannot predict behavior, therefore, not science. Physicists cannot predict either if variables increase - KeV theory. Meteorologist wrong because zillions of interacting particles - too many things in the system. Behavior originates in the brain. eg. How drove to school. Behavior expressed as expressed information. Major behavior, not swimming, dancing - driving expressed information. Take clothes off at home. } Don’t take clothes off at home.} the expression of specific information. Therefore, easy to connect to biology. 4. Consistency Between Adjacent Levels of Science (required for science) eg- dietitian 5lbs + 25lbs + 3 a day. 15 lbs on 3rd day. - Not possible, can be no inconsistencies. This has to do with behavior in general. Start thinking what is the neurological disorder. Next Paradigms and Psychology as related to abnormal behavior and classifiction