Doctor warns 'death will come soon' to anyone spotting one specific symptom

Edinburgh Live

18-06-2025

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A specialist in palliative care, Kathryn Mannix, has offered a powerful perspective on death, providing insights into what may be a prominent sign that someone is nearing their final moments. Dr Mannix, who merges her expertise as a clinician and author with her advocacy work for Hospice UK, promotes an open conversation about dying, calling it 'a natural process'.
Dr Kathryn, a key figure in Hospice UK's Dying Matters campaign and contributor to the eye-opening BBC piece 'Dying is not as bad as you think', advocates candid discussions about mortality across different platforms. During such conversations, she often points to particular signs indicating when a patient may be approaching the end of their life.
Urging for a rediscovery of 'the wisdom' in discussing the last phases of life, Dr Kathryn aims to break down the stigmas surrounding death.
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The Express reports on Dying Matters, an initiative by Hospice UK which strives to produce educational materials and encourages a culture where talks of death, bereavement, and the dying process are standardised.
Hospice UK has released a video with Dr Kathryn which sheds light on a key indicator of impending death, reports the Mirror.
Dr Kathryn has shared her view that 'dying is probably not as bad as you're expecting', offering reassurance and guidance regarding the dying process.
She details this in the Hospice UK video, explaining: "As time goes by people sleep more, and they're awake less.
"Instead of just being asleep, this person has temporarily become unconscious, we can't wake them up."
Dr. Kathryn described the moment of passing as follows: "At the very end of somebody's life, there will be a period of shallow breathing and then one out breath that just isn't followed by another in breath."
She explained that this marks the transition from consciousness to a comatose state, rather than simply sleep.
The physician also addressed the 'death rattle', a phenomenon that often precedes the final breath. She clarified that this sound is an indicator of profound tranquillity as the individual approaches death.
Dr. Kathryn stressed that the 'death rattle' should not be viewed negatively, but rather as a serene aspect of the dying process. She explained that the rattling noise occurs when the person becomes completely unconscious and peaceful, as they continue to breathe but lose the ability to clear their throat.
According to Dr. Kathryn, the accumulation of mucus and saliva in the back of the throat causes the characteristic rattling noise as the individual breathes. She described the final breath as potentially 'so gentle' that loved ones present may not immediately realise the person has passed away.
Dr. Kathryn highlighted the importance of understanding and appreciating this natural part of life, as well as comforting one another in times of bereavement. Dr Kathryn voiced her desire for society to recognise and accept the inherent process of dying – a common characteristic shared amongst all humanity.