# Does a death rattle equal 100% death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2021, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-death-rattle-equal-100-death/938133 "2021-03-17T22:10:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-death-rattle-equal-100-death/938133/1 "2021-03-17T22:10:25Z")
Hello Everyone, Once you’ve heard a death tale, you will never forget that sound. But I’m wondering, if your injured badly enough to begin the rattle can you still be saved? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-death-rattle-equal-100-death/938133/2 "2021-03-17T22:37:20Z")
The “death rattle” being the sound of saliva in the back of the throat an individual cannot clear through swallowing or coughing because of their weakened state, I’d say sure. Depending on why they are in that state. If it’s the end of a terminal illness where they did everything they could for an individual maybe not. If it was someone who just arrived at the ER due to starvation I’d think they could be saved. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-death-rattle-equal-100-death/938133/3 "2021-03-18T00:20:22Z")
Apparently there’s a “pseudo death rattle” and a “real death rattle.” [Even the real death rattle isn’t necessarily a predictor of _imminent_ death and can be treated with drugs.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11997200/)