terminal lucidity

terminal lucidity

Terminal lucidity (also known as rallying, terminal rally or the rally, end-of-life-experience, energy surge or pre-mortem surge) is an unexpected return of consciousness, mental clarity or memory shortly before death in individuals with severe psychiatric or neurological disorders. It has been reported by physicians since the 19th century. Terminal lucidity is a narrower term than the phenomenon paradoxical lucidity where return of mental clarity can occur anytime (not just before death). However, as of 2022, terminal lucidity is not considered a medical term and there is no official consensus on the identifying characteristics.Terminal lucidity is a poorly understood phenomenon in the context of medical and psychological research, and there is no consensus on what the underlying mechanisms are. Its existence challenges the irreversibility paradigm of chronic degenerative dementias. Studying terminal lucidity presents ethical challenges of informed consent. Care providers also have ethical challenges of whether to provide deep sedation, which might limit terminal lucidity, and how to respond to requests for a change in care plans from family members.

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