Bed test may determine person will die in 24 hours A bedside test could help doctors tell if a person is likely to die within 24 hours. 28 April 2026 A bedside eye test could help doctors predict if a patient could die within 24 hours. A doctor talking to female patient in hospital bed Scientists say the technique focuses on the corneal reflex, an automatic blink response triggered when the surface of the eye is gently touched. Researchers found that patients who had lost this reflex were far more likely to die within a day, offering a potential breakthrough in end-of-life care.