Trends in Medicine

Research Article ISSN: 1594-2848

Experience of health professionals around an exorcism: A

case report
José Luis Mosso Vázquez1* and Carlos Jesús Castañeda Gonzalez2
Emergency surgeon at the Regional and General Hospital Unit 25, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City
1

Medical Director, Psychiatry Hospital Fray Bernardino Alvarez, Mexico City

2

Abstract
Objective: To describe the experiences of health profesionals around a case of exorcism.
Methodology: There were 16 people in total that participated in the project “Resting Stated-Tractography-fMRI in initial phase of spiritual possession.” 13 of them
are health professionals: a surgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, neurophysiologist, family medicine physician, neurosurgeon, 2 radiology technicians, a gynecologist,
medical doctor, diagnostic radiology physician, exorscist and patient (Ex former medical student). The priest, mother and an aunt of the patient were not included.
The data collection (personal experiences) happened between 8 days before and 49 days after the exorcism with fMRI. A survey (see attached) was also carried out.
Results: 8 out of 13 participants (61.53%) had accidents and sudden events that put their lives in danger as well as the delay in the analysis of project data in a period
of 57 days surrounding an exorcism. Eight days before the exorcism, the psychiatrist experienced malfunctioning of his computer, allowing to visualize only the video
of the patient´t possession after turning on the computer. Seven days after the exorcism, the surgeon had a high-energy head trauma with no complications, chest
trauma and multiple bruises in a forest accident with fall from one meter tall; he also had a MVA (motor vehicle accident) 15 minutes before receiving the images of
the patient’s tractografies 37 days after exoscism, resulting in back muscular contractures. 22 days after the exorcism the medical doctor presented sudden break up of
a ten years with her boyfriend. Eight days before and during the exorcism, the father of the patient (a family medicine physician) presented chest and back pain with
a normal electrocardiogram “EKG”; 37 days after the exorcism he is admitted to the Critical Care Unit “CCU” for massive acute myocardial infarction, with loss of
myocardial function of 90%. 41 days after the exorcism, the gynecologyst is involved in a offence she did not commit. 49 days after the exorcism the neuropsychologist
delivered with delay the Resting State images with no results. On the survey carried out, the 12 participants are much more afraid of organized crime in Mexico than
of the devil.
Conclusions: The experiences around an exorcism were presented in 8 (61.5%) of 13 participants, of which 5 (38.46 %) did not presented personal experiences. 3
experiences were reported in the pre exorcism, 2 during exorcism and six in the postexorcism. Just two participants (father of the patient possessed ) had experiences
before, during and after followed by the patient. Male present higher risk to present intensive experiences around exorcism than females, females present high intensity
of fear to devil than male. 100%% of participants present higher fear to Mexican Organized Crime much more than devil.

Introduction Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI), in Mexico, in the year

2002 there were around 460,000 deaths reported, 11 of every 100 were
There are no records or publications on experiences of health under 15 years old. In 2005 accidents represented the third cause of
personnel around an exorcism or the term spiritual possessions or death in general, but in the child population the problem has been
the devil, according to the tenth version of the international control of more complex. From the year 2000 to 2006 accidents were in Mexico
diseases (ICD-10) [1]. The incidences and prevalences of some illnesses the main cause of death in ages 1 to 15. In other countries, such as the
and accidents that occurred around an exorcism [2-6] are described United States, 6000 to 7,000 deaths are reported annually, with acute
by many authors as Professor Patrick McNamara. This is a review of head trauma responsible for 50% of these. Cardiovascular diseases
the experience of health personnel who participated in an exorcism
and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are the number one cause in
held on April 6, 2017 in Mexico City. We will review the prevalence
Mexico. Atherosclerosis is considered responsible for at least a quarter
of craneoencephalic trauma, acute myocardial infarction, MVA, and
of deaths in the country. Mortality and morbidity generate a lethality
homicides by organized crime in Mexico, the latter was considered to
of up to 25% due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The remaining
be in the survey because it is a general concern of the participants.
92% receive hospital care. The annual incidence in Mexico of AMI is
Cranioencephalic trauma in Mexico is among the first ten causes estimated at 140,000 cases and it is considered that for each deceased
of mortality. It occurs more frequently in young men than in women
between 15 and 24 years of age with a ratio of 2.8: 1. This incidence
increases between 60 and 65 years of age [7,8]. The socioeconomic level
*Correspondence to: José Luis Mosso Vázquez, Emergency surgeon at the
of the patients with this injuries is om the low side. In all ages, traumatic
Regional and General Hospital Unit 25, Mexican Institute of Social Security,
brain injuries (TBI) represent the number one cause of deaths and Mexico City, E-mail: quele01@yahoo.com
hospitalizations due to accidents. Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are
the main cause of TBI around the world, and this problem is increasing Key words: spiritual possession, exorcism, fMRI
particularly in developing countries [9]. In the National Institute of Received: May 02, 2018; Accepted: May 23, 2018; Published: May 29, 2018

Trends Med, 2018 doi: 10.15761/TiM.1000139 Volume 18(3): 1-4

 Vázquez JLM (2018) Experience of health professionals around an exorcism: A case report

(35,000) 3 more survive. The mortality rates for AMI, standardized by professionals participated with the following demographics items: sex,
age, are higher than in the USA and Canada [10]. The exacerbated forms age, professional position, religion, function in the project, religion,
of hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents and diabetes mellitus share whether or not they believe in the devil, personal experience 8 days
the same statistics [11]. Car accidents in the Mexico in 2015 accounted before and 49 days after the exorcism. Survey was included whether
for 382,066 cases, with 4636 deaths. There were 12,637 accidents in they believe in the devil, the intensity of fear of the devil vs organized
Mexico City, 2147 suffered injuries, 200 deaths, and 9990 caused only crime in Mexico with the following scale (Mild fear +, moderate fear
minor damage, [12]. The most frequent etiology for death is MVA with ++, and intense fear +++).
a 31.46%. Age ranges between 16 and 45 years old. Extremities are the
The motivation to study these phenomena was the initial event that
most affected body part with 70.49%, followed by the skull and the face
the head of the project suffered. This surgeon’s acute head and chest
with 46.3% and dorsum with 20.70% [12]. Homicides by the organized
trauma triggered the task to follow up on each accident, illnesses,
crime, in 2015 were 20. In six out of ten homicides, the responsible
without knowing of the intention of the project.
is the organized crime. 17 homicides per 100,000 Mexicans are of
caused by the organized crime. The Mexican state of Guerrero has the Results
highest statistics with 67 homicides per 100 thousand Mexicans, [13].
Numbers continued to increase through 2017. Diabetes mellitus type II 8 personal experiences in healt professional, 8 days before and 49
(DMTII) has recently been considered a national emergency. In Mexico days after an exorcism on a female of 29 of age. Accidents, illnesses and
during 2011, 70 out of 100 thousand people died from complications of unusual phenomena occurred in 8 of 13 participants, which represents
diabetes mellitus. Diabetes deaths are mainly due to type II diabetes. In 61.53%. We describe personal experience each one in three areas: Pre
2011 they represented 62% in women and 61% in men. The incidence exorcisms, exorcism, and post exorcism experiences.
of diabetes increases with age, the population of 60 to 64 years has
Pre exorcism experiences (8 days before)
the highest in 2011 (1,788 per 100 thousand persoons of the same age
group). At a national level, during 2011, 9 out of 100 uninsured people Phychiatrist (68 years old): Eight days before the exorcism, the
who had a diabetes test, was positive. desktop computer located in his public hospital office was suddenly
broken for three weeks, except for the ignition that automatically
Case report showed the video of patient possession, this video was recorded 3
A 29-year-old female with past medical history and social history months earlier. The other general functions of the computer were
as follows. History of dysphagia and odynophagia with poor oral intake completely deteriorated.
since she was 18. He has been in possession of two aggressive agents,
Family medicine physician (patient´s father and 60 years of
called Olito and Estencaster. Full medical work up has been negative
age): Eight days before the exorcism, he presented acute myocardial
for a physiologic cause, including EEGs, brain CT, MRI and laboratory
infarction with mild precordial pain on multiple occasions with normal
studies. No anatomical or functional disorders of the central nervous
electrocardiogram, reason why he payed poor attention to it.
system were found. She belongs to a dysfunctional family, only daughter
of a diabetic, hypertensive and alcoholic family medicine physician Exorcist personal experience: The priest was sexually harassed
who has an aggressive behavior towards her. As of note, her father in the church by two women in two separate occasions over the same
belongs to a secret order. The patient started medical school twice, and week. He also reported a dream where another female was sexually
the cause for quitting in both occasions were devil possesions. Now harassing him.
she is a photography student. She had 5 exorcisms of 8 hours each. She
came to our medical team consisting of a psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, During exorcism experiences
psychologist, gynecologist, endoscopist surgeon and an exorcist priest
Family medicine physician (Patient´s father): During the
with the aforementioned background. As mentioned before, anatomical
exorcism he presented again precordial pain associated with anxiety
and functional defects of the central nervous system are ruled out hence
with intensity of 5 on a scale of 0 to 10. No medical treatment received.
she had a fMRI during the state of possession and exorcism on April
6, 2017. The patient has not recover completely, she continues to have Patient (former medical student, 29 years of age): Laying flat
pictures of possession and continues having exorcisms by a different inside of the MRI machine had aversion to sacred words and objects.
priest. Clinical description of possession right after exorcism showing syncope,
generalized rigidity, mumbling, hypothermia, bradycardia, drooling.
Methodology Words unaible to be heard due to noise of MRI .
16 persons participated in total in one exorcism: Surgeon,
Post exorcism experiences
pshychiatrist, phychologist, neurophychologist, family medicine
physician (patient´s father), neurosurgeon, 2 radiology technicians, Surgeon personal experience (54 years old): Six days after the
gynechologist, a medical doctor, diagnostic radiology physician, exorcism, the surgeon climbed up a mountain when a small and brown
exorscist, patient (former medical student), priest, mother and an snake approximately 15 cm of length got into his pants without causing
aunt of the patient. 13 of 16 participants were health professionals any injury. Seven days after exorcism he fell from 1 meter tall on top
involved in the exorcism, see Table 1. Inclusion criteria selection: of rocks. He suffered from head trauma and wounds on the forehead,
Participants are involved in a health
​​ area, personal experience 8 days arm, hands, fingers, shoulder, thorax on the left side, he did not present
before and 49 days after the exorcism. having participated directly or a loss of consciousness and received only conservative treatment in a
indirectly in the project. Both genders are included regardless of age, trauma hospital. He had no evidence of skull and brain damage. He
religion and professional position. Exclusion criteria selection: There presented headache one week after the trauma, and an episode of
were 3 participants excluded as mother, priest, and patient´s aunt not uncontrollable vertigo, and post-traumatic stress disorder for month
related with health area. Participants remain anynimous. 13 health and a half (PTSD). 33 days after the exorcism and 15 minutes before

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 Vázquez JLM (2018) Experience of health professionals around an exorcism: A case report

Table 1. Pre and pos exorcism experiences in 11 health professionals around exorcism G= Gendre, A= Age, R= Religion, D= Demond, MOC= Mexican Organized Crime
Fear of the devil
Position in the Pre exorcism Post exorcism
N G A Profession Religion Believe in devil vs. organized
project experience experience
crime
Head and
Project head thorax trauma,
Surgeon Demond +
1 M 54 Catholic Patient Yes No postraumatic
Endoscopyst MOC +++
endoscopy stress. ventricular
extrasystoles.
Wrong PC. It
Clinical Demond
2 M 68 Psychiatrist Catholic Yes displayed just None
evaluator MOC +++
possesion video.
Clinical Demond
3 M 52 Psychologist Catholic No No None
evaluator MOC +++
Delayed report
delivery 49
Neuro Perform resting D
4 F Catholic days after the
psychologist state fMRI MCO
exorcism without
interpretation
Family medicine Acute Miocardial
Catholic
physician (Father Acute myocardial infarctus from 8 Demond +
5 M 60 Ex secret order Support exorcism Yes
of the patient infarction days before until MOC +++
member
possessed) 35 days later.
Radiology Demond +
6 M 25 Catholic Performed fMRI Yes No No
technician MOC +++
Demond ++
Radiology
7 F 42 Catholic Performed fMRI Yes No No MOC
technician
+++
Demond ++
Clinical
8 F 52 Gynecologist Catholic Yes No Family conflict MOC
evaluator
+++
Sudden rupture
after 10 Demond ++
9 F 29 Medical doctor Catholic Vital signs No
relationship years MOC +++
with boyfriend.
Morphological
Diagnostic
interpretation Demond ++
10 M 57 Radiology Probably yes No No
Cristian fMRI and MOC +++
Physician
tractographies.
Perform 3 Sexual Demond +
11 M Exorcist Catholic Yes No
exorcism harassment OC +++
Brain
morphological Demond ++
12 M 45 Neurosurgeon Catholic Yes No No
interpretation MOC +++
fMRI analysis.
Patient (Ex Catholic. Ex
Demond ++
13 F 29 former medical secret order Possesed Yes No Possesion
MOC ++
student) member

arriving at the private hospital to obtain results of the fMRI, he also Patient (Ex former Medical student, 29 of age): In the following 5
had a MVA causing muscle contracture on the back that spontaneously days she presented 2 possesions at home.
subsided within 48 hours.
Global experience
Family medicine physician (patient´s father): 35 days after the
It was integrated by 13 members (100%), 8 (61.5%) with
exorcism he presented intense substernal chest pain for 2 days. He
experiences and 5 (38.46 %)11 (84 %) didn´t . On a scale of fear of
was admitted to the CCU for acute myocardial infarct demonstrated
mild (+), moderate (++) and severe (+++).Of those who answered the
by coronary angiography with ischemia of the myocardium of
survey “except neurophychologist”, 92.30% had intensive afraid (+++)
approximately 90%. Currently he is with medication and absolut rest.
to Mexican Organized Crime much more than the devil (Except the
Gynecologyst personal experience (52 years of age): She has been patient) as follows; no fear (16.6%), fear + (33.3%), fear ++ (50%), fear
accused by a family member for a incident she did not commit. +++ (0%). Pre exorcism experiences was presented in 3 males (23.07%),
during exorcism in two (15.38%) just the father and the daughter, in
Medical doctor experience (28 years of age): 42 days after the post exorcism 6 (46.16%), 4 females and 2 males. All participants
exorcism, she suddenly broke up afwith her boyfriend after ten years are Catholics except the 25-year-old radiologist technician who is
of relationship. Christian.
Neuropsychologist personal experience (unknown age): In Group with no experiences was integrated by 3 males and 1
charge to deliver the results of the fMRI. DTI tractography (33 days female. Neurosurgeon (Did not met the patient), radiology physician,
after the exorcism) and the delayed result of the Resting State at 49. She psychologist (did not met the patient), 2 radiology technicians ( 25 and
was the only one participant who did not want to answer the survey. female 42 of age). 50% of this group of them did not met the patient.

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 Vázquez JLM (2018) Experience of health professionals around an exorcism: A case report

Conclusions participants are Catholics except the 25-year-old radiologist technician

who is Christian. Neither did the non-health related participants, the
The experiences around an exorcism were presented in 8 (61.5%) patient´s mother, patient´s aunt, and pshychologist during this period
of 13 participants, of which 5 (38.46 %) did not presented personal of 57 days, they did not personal experiences, despite these last two
experiences. 3 experiences were reported in the pre exorcism, 2 participated in the exorcisms. Patient´s father was in a secret order
during exorcism and six in the postexorcism. Just two participants
during two years and he quit the order and burned his books and
(father of the patient possessed ) had experiences before, during and
uniforms before the patient was born. The patient was baptized in that
after followed by the patient. There were 8 male and 5 female in this
father´s secret order when she was kid. The survey allows us to remark
group. Female presented higher fear to the devil. 61.5% of the 13 health
in the present article that personality disorders (such as cases of spiritual
personal involved in the exorcism presented 2 accidents, acute illness,
possession) have no importance in the face of the great harassment that
an unusual phenomenon, a sudden break up of relationship and a
Mexican society has no comparison with the heavy damage caused
case of sexual harassment over a 57-days period, but high risk to loss
by organized crime in Mexico (The enforced disappearance, crimes,
live were present. It is to be considered that the pathological personal
kidnappings, feminicide, death of students, in Mexico is a big problem
history in some cases, such as AMI, plays a preponderant role in the
health-disease process as well as the risk factors or triggers, however the by the number of victims, more than 30,000 just in eleven years. Today
number of 8 cases out of a total of N = 13 drawed our attention. disappear a person each 30 minutes) [15]. However, 61.53% of personal
experiences that were presented around an exorcism call our attention
We consider that metabolic diseases such as DM Type II, although it is a very small group to issue conclusions.
cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension in Mexico, around an
exorcism represent high impact into the health directly leading to Acknowledgment
complications and accidents that put at risk the vitality and function
We appreciate the enthusiastic support of Angélica Torres Morales,
of the staff, of health. We consider that chronic diseases such as Type
M.D. Internal Medicine Chief Resident at Mount Sinai Medical Center
II DM and cardiovascular diseases are a high risk factor for chronic or
Florida for improving the quality of the present article helping us in
recurrent events that generate stress. The state of possession that can
part of the translation of this article.
trigger deadly complications such as AMI. On the other hand, traffic
accidents and cranial injuries are not possible to avoid around an event References
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