how does a doctor know when someone is close to dying?

Answer 1

They can tell when vital organs are shutting down slowly.

Answer 2

Generally, when someone with a serious illness or injury is close to dying, they go into shock. Their blood pressure drops, so the doctor can tell by measuring the blood pressure.

There are a lot of other ways, but that is the simplest.

Answer 3

It becomes one of those things you tend to learn on the job, from the medical side you can check their heart rate, blood pressure and pupil responses and things like that.
On a more personal level, if you take time to be with the patient you will see deterioration in their skin colour, their breathing will become more laboured, they usually start to feel cold, their hands especially. I know I mentioned about colour before but if you also look at the hands you will notice they slowly lose their colour, becoming very very pale and cold and sometimes they have a blue tinge to them.

I hope this answers your question hun xx

Answer 4

There are physical changes the occur when someone is close to death. Helen Kubler Ross did extensive studies in the 70's, her book, On Death and Dying, is the first of its kind. I recommend it. Hospice workers are also familiar with the changes that occur.

Answer 5

There are a number of signs that let a doctor know someone is going to die soon. The heartrate, heart rhythm, breathing pattern, response of pupils are a few of the things he looks for. When you have been around alot of death, you can see all the signs at a glance.

Answer 6

Among other doctory things, he can see it in the eyes upon examination, the heartbeat and the inhaling and exhaling rhythm. Hey, that's why they spend all that time learning. But if you're ever in a room with someone who is imminently ready to die, keep your eyes steady on their eyes until they are gone and you may see a delicate 'mist' leave the body very quickly through the eyes. I think it must be how the soul leaves. What else could it be - I've seen it twice now in my 60 years. If you see it, would you please let me know?

Answer 7

The breathing becomes very shallow, almost like a rattling sound.
when my mum passed away earlier this year the Marie Curie Nurse who spent the night with mum told my sister and I that mum would be gone by the end of the day, sounds really cold hearted and callous when your told something like that, but that's her job and she knew that mum wouldn't last much longer and god bless her she was right, she left our house at 7.30 am and mum passed away at 2.05pm that afternoon.
I dont know how they know for sure, but they have a rough idea!

Answer 8

DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, THEY SCAN AND LOOK HOW BAD IT HAS GOTTEN. EXAMPLE: YOU GOT A COLD, JUST COUGHING, A WEEK LATER OR SME TIME YOU ARE BREAKING OUT IN HIVES, SWEATING, YOUR CHEST HURTING, BLOTCHES ON YOUR SKIN, THROWING UP, , NOW YOU CAN'T WALK, YOUR VISION GETTING BAD, AND ALL THE MEDICATION IS JUST TO RELIEVE THE PAIN, AND THERE IS NO CURE, IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD, ALL THE DOC. CN DO IS TO RELIEVE YOUR PAIN,....THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. NOT EVERYONE SUFFER FROM WHAT THEY HAVE, BUT THE DOC. CAN SEE IF IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF NO RETURN. ALL I CAN SAY IS PRAY ON THE SITUATION, GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

Answer 9

all your external body parts go a funny purple blue colour your body takes all the blood from your fingers, and toes so it can keep your major organs working when that happens its a matter of hours

Answer 10

definitely from your vitals. And a blood cell count. Your blood tells you almost everything.