Q. Since, (see prior question 2277), in our days it is difficult to ascertain when a terminally ill patient has reached the stage of becoming a goses, when should the tefilos and the tehilim as well as the recitation of Shema be said, especially when a minyan is present?
A. Poskim (Mekorei Minhagim 87, Nitei Gavriel – Avelus 1: 3: 3, and others) maintain that the customary tefilos ans tehilim (mentioned in Maavar Yabok and others), should not be recited if the patient is conscious and aware of them, since that may cause severe concern and worry and speed the demise. Rather, the ones reciting tehilim should do so in a corner or outside the room.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that if the patient is unconscious and has reached the goses stage, (see prior question) the customary tefilos and tehilim should be recited.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a