Author: Edward

Experts are urging families to understand a common end-of-life sound called the “death rattle.” It can be unsettling to hear, but it is a normal part of dying.

What the “death rattle” is

Medical News Today says it happens when breathing changes and secretions collect in the throat. End-of-life nurse Julie has explained it as a small build-up of saliva at the back of the throat that “sounds really bad.” She also said fever can happen near the end of life because the body loses control of core temperature. She stressed this can be normal when someone is dying naturally at home.

What it can sound like

The sound often appears when a person can no longer swallow in their final stages. Secretions in the respiratory tract may increase. It is commonly described as a crackling, wet noise that gets louder with each breath. It can also sound like a soft moan, loud gurgling, or snoring.

Does it hurt?

Family and friends may worry, but the person is not in pain or discomfort. On average, a person lives about 25 hours after the death rattle starts. Studies suggest it can last longer in hospice care than in hospital.

How nurses may reduce the noise

Health professionals may: turn the person on their side, raise the head to help drainage, moisten the mouth with damp swabs, use suction, limit fluids, or give medication to reduce secretions. These steps may not stop it, but they can make it less noticeable.

A 16-year-old girl in Italy died after a phone she was using in the bath fell into the water while it was charging.

The teenager, Maria Antonietta Cutillo, was at her parents’ home in Avellino. Reports say she was in the bathtub holding her phone during a call with a friend. The device was reportedly plugged in to charge.

It is believed the phone slipped from her hand and dropped into the bath. The fall is thought to have caused a short circuit, leading to a fatal electric shock. Local reports say Cutillo’s family were not at home at the time.

Her friend grew worried when their call suddenly cut off. The friend then contacted emergency services to the home.

Cutillo’s body was taken to the morgue at Moscati Hospital in Avellino for an autopsy. Local police also investigated what happened. Reports say her father is well known in the Irpinia region and owns a butcher’s shop.

The friend she was speaking to shared a tribute on TikTok. She said she could still hear Cutillo screaming her name during the video call. She also wrote that the empty desk next to her at school would be a painful reminder.

Electrocution involving phones is rare, but similar incidents have been reported elsewhere. The Mirror reported that 27-year-old Wanchai Deengam in Thailand died in 2023 after falling asleep with his phone charging. Police believed a short circuit may have caused the shock, and he was said to be using the wrong adaptor. Another case reported by the Daily Mail said a schoolgirl in France died in 2020 when a charging phone fell onto her chest in the bath and slipped into the water.

Two-year-old Yuna Feeley died after a long wait for an ambulance in Massachusetts.

Yuna, from Winthrop near Boston, had a respiratory illness. On the morning of January 26, she suddenly went limp in her mother’s arms. She then stopped breathing.

Her mother, Andrea Feeley, called 911. But trained paramedics did not arrive.

What happened during the 911 call

The call went to Action Ambulance Service, a private company serving Winthrop. Both of its ambulances were already on other calls.

A fire crew was sent instead. Firefighters arrived about seven minutes after the call.

Why an ambulance did not arrive

Firefighters quickly saw Yuna needed advanced life support. They radioed for an ambulance.

But there was no ambulance available to respond. After about 15 minutes, none had arrived. That is well above the eight-minute target for cardiac arrest calls.

The rush to the hospital

One firefighter drove Yuna to Massachusetts General Hospital in his car. Two other firefighters gave CPR during the drive.

Yuna was pronounced dead on arrival. She reached the hospital about 23 minutes after the 911 call.

Autopsy result

An autopsy found the cause of death was necrotizing pneumonia. It is a rare but severe lung infection. It proved fatal on top of her respiratory virus.

What investigators and the company said

Action Ambulance told DailyMail.com it was a devastating case. It said EMS systems are strained by more calls, staffing gaps, and ER backlogs.

A Boston Globe investigation pointed to a wider shortage of ambulances and EMS staff. Experts told the paper paramedics may have been able to give more advanced care, including epinephrine, stronger defibrillators, and IV fluids.

Andrea Feeley told NBC10 Boston her daughter deserved “an ambulance and paramedics who could have possibly done more.”

Mounjaro, also called tirzepatide, has been dubbed the “King Kong” of weight-loss jabs. It is seen as more effective than similar drugs like Ozempic.

Who can get it on the NHS

NICE has ruled that 3.4 million adults are eligible for Mounjaro. It is recommended for people with a BMI over 35 and at least one weight-related illness.

Why access will be limited

NICE says it will be rolled out to over 200,000 people in three years. But NHS capacity means only 220,000 patients will receive it in that time. NICE has also agreed to give the NHS more than a decade to fully introduce it.

The drug costs £122 a month. Regulators say it should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. It will be available within 90 days of final guidance on December 23.

Side effects doctors want you to know

There are growing concerns about misleading claims on safety. Reports include severe stomach problems, such as stomach paralysis and gallbladder issues.

US doctor Ethan Melillo told his 450,000-plus TikTok followers that pancreatitis is a “rare but serious side effect.” He warned patients to report “pain in your stomach that radiates to your back,” so doctors can discuss stopping the drug.

A UK death case

The MHRA has received reports of 10 deaths linked to weight-loss jabs, plus 7,228 reports of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. It notes reports do not prove cause.

Susan McGowan, 58, a nurse from Lanarkshire, died on September 4 after two low-dose injections over two weeks. Her death certificate listed tirzepatide as a contributing factor. Her niece Jade told the BBC Susan was “healthy” and “wasn’t on any other medication.”