The Lazarus Complex Revisited
Thomas P. Hackett · Annals of Internal Medicine · 1972
Editorials1 January 1972The Lazarus Complex RevisitedTHOMAS P. HACKETT, M.D.THOMAS P. HACKETT, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-76-1-135_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe cycle of death and resurrection has intrigued men for centuries, but in our time social scientists have shown remarkably little interest in those few individuals who have gone through that perilous transition. The survivors of cardiac arrest (probably more than any other single group of patients) qualify as latter-day versions of Lazarus. In contrast to their biblical forebear who apparently suffered no ill effects as the result of his return from the dead, patients successfully saved from heart stop-page, as reported by Druss and Kornfeld (1), have a more hazardous course. These two psychiatric investigators published the first study...References1. DRUSS R and KORNFELD D: Survivors of cardiac arrest: a psychiatric study. JAMA 201:296, 1967 CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. LIFTON R: Death in Life. New York, Random House, 1967 Google Scholar3. DOBSON M, TATTERSFIELD A, ADLER M, and MCNICOL M: Attitudes in long-term adjustment of patients surviving cardiac arrest. Br Med J 3:207-212, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. HACKETT T, CASSEM N, and WISHNIE H: The coronary care unit: an appraisal of its psychological hazards. N Engl J Med 279:1365-1370, 1968 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. FEIFEL H: The Meaning of Death. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1959 Google Scholar6. CASSEM N, WISHNIE H, and HACKETT T: How coronary patients respond to last rites. Postgrad Med 45:147-152, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. LAWRIE D: Long term survival after ventricular fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction. Lancet 2:1085-1087, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. MCNAMEE B, ROBINSON T, and ADGEY A: Long term prognosis following ventricular fibrillation in acute ischaemic heart disease. Br Med J 4:204-206, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: THOMAS P. HACKETT, M.D.Affiliations: Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, Mass. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byLazarus-PhänomenIntraoperatives „Lazarus-Phänomen“?The Lazarus phenomenonNeurology in Holy ScriptureUnexpected return of spontaneous circulation after cessation of resuscitation (Lazarus phenomenon)Near death experiences and death-related visions in children: Implications for the clinicianLaboratory Evaluation of Newly Admitted Psychiatric PatientsAttitude Change Following Near-Death ExperiencesThe Gift of Life: A Review of the Psychological Aspects of Kidney TransplantationSurvivors of Cardiac Arrest 1 January 1972Volume 76, Issue 1Page: 135-137KeywordsHeartScientists ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 January 1972 PDF downloadLoading ...