Lazarus sign

The Lazarus sign is a reflex which can occur in a brain-dead person, thus giving the appearance that they have returned to life.

Occurrences of the Lazarus sign in intensive-care units have been mistaken for evidence of resuscitation of patients.

Heytens L, Verlooy J, Gheuens J, et al.: Lazarus sign and extensor posturing in a brain-dead patient.

Like the knee jerk reflex, the Lazarus sign is an example of a reflex mediated by a reflex arc - a neural pathway which passes via the spinal column but not through the brain.

The Lazarus sign or Lazarus reflex is a reflex movement in brain-dead or brainstem failure patients, which causes them to briefly raise their arms and drop them crossed on their chests (in a position similar to some Egyptian mummies).