People who are ill, in their last days of of life do not eat. I know both of my parents were ill and both died at home. They both refused food and barely had any liquids. That’s not euthanasia, that’s dying naturally.
My Dad died peacefully in his own bed just four weeks ago today; we (and his doc) recognized the inevitable and got him on Home Hospice for his final two weeks....a great service which Medicare provided.
You're right about the lack of desire for nutrition.
Pop was comfortable, relaxing/pain meds were on hand for the caregivers, and we don't regret this route one iota.
My mom was put on hospice on a Friday and she begged for a coconut junior, her favorite. Then ice cream, another favorite. Hospice told us food makes it more painful but if requested then give it. She couldn’t hold it down of course but thought she enjoyed it. She even said, “wow I ate that whole coconut junior” lol. She didn’t of course but the morphine was working by then. The next night, she told one of my kids she wanted chocolate candy, and she brought her a piece, which she ended up spitting a minute or so later but said how much she enjoyed it. The morning of the night she died, my one little one wakes me up saying Mom Mom needs you. I rush into her and she says, I want coffee, you gonna make coffee. So I made it and we fed her a teaspoon which she immediately spit up but thought she drank and commented on how good it was.
Since she was placed on hospice on a Friday, and we basically just did phone calls, the nurse on call on Sunday sent out a nurse on Sunday night just to see/ease our concerns. I asked that nurse point blank how long (and she looked at my husband and said does she really want to know, and he said, she’s the boss) and told me she thought she’d be back later that night since she thought my mom only had a few hours left. I thought that too and just wanted it confirmed. I needed to get the rest of the family here even though I called everyone Sunday morning because I knew she wouldn’t make it until Monday. Unfortunately, only a close friend took me seriously and got here and spent the afternoon with her. Only one other showed up and it was a minute after she died but he tried to get here before that. The nurse was right and she was back a couple hours later to clean the body, get rid of all the meds, esp. the morphine, etc. She did offer to let me have the sleeping pills but I declined.
So after a long, rambling post, you’re right. People who are dying don’t eat. My mom thought she was eating, had cravings, etc. but didn’t really eat the treats/drink the coffee.