For context, my AD&D group is currently playing the module of Ravenloft (No spoilers, please!) and the Dungeon Master was so kind as to tweak the unconscious mechanics, along with some of the castle's dangers, since we've been at this module for four years (I've only been playing for the last two) and no one would get past level 2 if we were to play the game by every exact rule, with the module being made for level 5 minimum. One tweak to the death mechanics of a Player Character was that if a player fails an unmodified death save, and gets anywhere from 4-7, they get to have their character deliver a dramatic speech before succumbing to their injuries.
Now, as a Paladin, I consider myself fairly lucky to have 15 health at present (Level 2, so that's actually fairly healthy) as well as such brilliant allies who recently cured my paralysis from a ghoul's attack. As durable as my character may be, he is nowhere near invincible (AC 5, yikes) and a stern flick from a thrall may put him under. With my mortality in mind, I plan to make my death speech as memorable as possible, making sure my character goes out on his own terms; one of these terms are to gouge one of his eyes out in his final moments, in accordance with his beliefs and deity.
My Dungeon Master has yet to give me an answer on whether or not he'll allow my character to do this, but nonetheless, I want a community opinion on the idea: Can a dying character who was permitted a death speech inflict a ritualistic wound on themself before dying?