Some people read about NDEs because they would like to know more about what is on the other side before deciding whether or not to kill themself.

I saw an article about those surviving suicide jumps from the Bay Bridge. The number interviewed was not enough to be statistically significant, but their experiences did not appear different from near-deaths from other causes. Other authors say the experiences are negative. I have heard several reports of NDErs being told "suicide is a mistake". I haven't heard any NDErs say "Suicide is COOL!! Go for it!!"

NDEs (as objectively real events) do not have any scientific support except in Sabom's "Recollections of Death". In reference to this report, the esteemed skeptic Susan Blackmore said "We can only await further research" (Fall 1991 p.43 Skeptical Enquirer). That research has not been forth-coming.

Many people have made many mistakes by believing in things without any evidence simply because "it felt good" to believe in those things. To believe in NDEs as real at this time is not a scientifically legitimate perspective. To base important decisions (such as choosing to kill or not kill yourself) on unproven information is not wise.

NDEs can at least open experiencers to the realities of their own emotions. I do not say this to be disrespectful to the NDE. Emotions are very real and very important. They may be the single most important difference between humans and machines. Nearly dying can be very effective at getting in tune with your emotions. The importance of the NDE could be that they are a window into the core of our emotions. The message from NDEs appears to be that the animal being at our core does not want to die. Evolution theory would agree.

I saw a comic strip depicting a rabbit pointing a gun to his head. It was humorous because we know rabbits (and nearly all other animals) do not kill themselves. They are not confused by the complexities of modern life. They are not emotionally strung out. The humor in the idea of a suicidal rabbit is not about rabbits. It's about us. But neither are rabbits intelligent enough to view suicide as a way of escaping pain, or to use it as a way of helping others (as did Ghandi did during nearly fatal hunger strikes, Buddhist monks burning themselves to make political statements, and Jesus allowing himself to be crucified).

If a person kills themself for the survival of 10 others, would an NDEr say it is OK? I don't know. What if a terminally ill person is in a great deal of pain and does not want their family to have to suffer through the pain with them? The message from NDEs, I think, is love. What the hell does that mean? We all seem to have a feeling for it, but who can give an adequate definition. Here's Webster's definitions: A strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties. Sex. God. Cherish. Caress. A zero score in tennis.

In summary, I don't know.