Eelco Wijdicks
Eelco Wijdicks has written numerous books and scientific articles on the clinical practice of Neurocritical Care. He has been enamored with cinema−and neurologic representation in fiction film and documentary. He has written film reviews for NEUROLOGY TODAY and LANCET NEUROLOGY. He is the author of a major publication on the portrayal of coma in film and its potential effect on the viewing public.
Subjects: Medicine
Biography
Eelco Wijdicks is Professor of Neurology at Mayo College of Medicine. He is the Chair of the Division of Critical Care Neurology and attending neurointensivist at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus. He has written numerous books and scientific articles on the clinical practice of Neurocritical Care.He has been enamored with cinema-and neurologic representation in fiction film and documentary. He has written film reviews for NEUROLOGY TODAY and LANCET NEUROLOGY. Dr Wijdicks is the author of a major publication on the portrayal of coma in film and its potential effect on the viewing public.
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
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Neurocritical Care
Books
Articles
CUT! Neurologist to moviemakers: Your comas are all wrong!
Published: May 09, 2006 by MPR News
Authors: Eelco F. M. Wijdicks
Subjects:
Medicine
Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Eelco Wijdicks says a portrayal of rapid and complete recovery from coma is common -- and totally wrong. He also says movies even get it wrong when a person is still in a coma. "Patients are represented by actors and are beautifully groomed," he explains. "They do not represent the atrophy and ulcers that often are seen in prolonged coma. They look as though they are asleep."
The Portrayal of Coma in Contemporary Motion Pictures
Published: May 08, 2006 by American Academy of Neurology
Authors: Eelco F.M. Wijdicks and Coen A. Wijdicks
Subjects:
Medicine
Coma has been a theme of screenplays in motion pictures, but there is no information about its accuracy. The authors reviewed 30 movies from 1970 to 2004 with actors depicting prolonged coma.
Brain Death Expert: Accepted Fact but No Global Consensus in Diagnostic Criteria
Published: Jun 11, 2002 by UNMC Newsroom
Authors: Eelco F. M. Wijdicks
Subjects:
Medicine
Dr. Wijdicks surveyed the brain death criteria in 80 countries around the world and found that many countries require more than one physician to declare someone brain dead. Some countries require the determination be made by a specialist, that there be confirmatory tests or that there be a 24-hour waiting period after the determination before life support is removed.