And there was likely an advanced directive/living will on file with the nursing home he was in before being brought to the hospital, that likely did state his wishes at the time. But all of us needs to know we also have the right to change our mind about the advanced directive.

Again I ask this question: why isn't the solution to simply send the patient back to the nursing home he came from, instead of being kept in hospital? I'm guessing the answer to that is, because the state won't pay for the medical care in the nursing home, because it has already been decided by doctors treating in the hospital, that the current level of care is futile.

Like I said, be merciful and compassionate first, to all concerned. Anyone who has ever been on a respirator can tell you they most certainly are not painless, as Rabbi Sol keeps insisting.