Unlike Cheryl, I couldn't agree less. You harp on the “comfort” of your own bed when compared to a hospital bed. I cannot image anyone choosing to die at home because it had a more comfortable bed. As someone who has had repeated personal and observational experience of the dying process (I have spent time on what my family were told would be my death bed — stage four cancer with secondaries) and I have spent hours cuddling and holding the hands of two loved ones as they passed.

Yes, I, and they, wanted to die at home, but in two cases that involved purchasing a hospital bed. The hospital beds were needed for the reasons that hospitals, nursing homes, and palliative care institutions need them. Not for the dismissive, offhand reasons you noted.

The reason for wanting to be at home is for the comfort and support of family, not beds. Dying is a lonely process.

As for not feeling thirst if not eating — that is disingenuous nonsense. I once didn't eat for eleven days and I was very thirsty. So were the guys who were with me when our yacht was damaged.

Are you SURE that you are a Doctor?