ByJONATHAN NEAL, HEALTH REPORTER
Published:08:26 EDT, 25 April 2026|Updated:08:26 EDT, 25 April 2026
A simple bedside test could help doctors predict whether a person is likely to die within 24 hours, researchers say.
The technique involves checking the corneal reflex – the automatic blink response that happens when the surface of the eye is gently touched.
Scientists found patients who had lost this reflex were far more likely to die within the next day, raising hopes the method could help families prepare for a loved one's final hours.
Experts said recognising when death is close is one of the most difficult parts of end-of-life care, yet one of the questions relatives ask most often is how much time remains.
The study, published in BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, was led by Dr Jung Hun Kang, director of the hospice centre at Gyeongsang National University Hospital inSouth Korea.
He said: 'Family members often place great importance on being present at the moment of death.
'That often leads to difficult and urgent questions about how much time remains.'
Doctors and nurses already look for signs that a patient may be nearing death, including changes in breathing, bluish skin caused by poor circulation and reduced consciousness.
Source: Drudge Report
