That sounds like a directive from the patient himself; a facility wouldn't set those rules for a patient. Painkillers only, no food and water - that is how my mother died, by refusing care because the hospital was doing such a terrible job of managing her pain. She was moved to a skilled nursing facility and once a morphine pump was installed she refused anything else. This because the hospital refused to administer pain treatments on a schedule, you had to ask as needed, but it took them upwards of an hour to administer. Fall asleep from the drug, wake up comfortable for an hour or so, then the pain comes back and request again. Another painful wait.

I'm so sorry it came to that. I hope his family all made it home in time to say goodbye.