We just went through the same situation with my father this past year. When I was pleading with one doctor, I said exactly what you just posted: that "hope" is so important. My father just wanted a chance.
My dad did everything the doctors told him to. They promised him that following surgery, he would be treated for his cancer. The surgery went wrong, and he ended up with a life-threatening infection. For months, he fought the infection and miraculously survived. But, by then, the doctors said the cancer had spread too far and it was too late to treat him. He was devastated. We refused to give up on him. We argued and argued with the doctors. My dad pleaded with the doctors to try something. He just wanted to be given the chance he was promised. They all refused.
Finally, months later, we found two doctors willing to try a treatment, however slim the hope, and - guess what - the hospital's ethics committee tried to stop them. So we ended up fighting the so-called "ethics" committee. Finally, he was given one treatment, but by then it was far too late, and he passed away.
This is the way things are today: Hospitals and doctors are willing to fight for your right to refuse treatment and to die. But, they won't fight for your right to try a treatment. They'll fight to deny you that right. That's been our experience.
my mom layed there for almost 3 months, waiting to die....if nothing else, I wished we had a 24/7 prayer group at her bedside, praying for a miracle....anything to make her feel that we still wanted her and we still had hope....
I usually defend doctors, but in both my mom's and dads' case....it's impossible...