I'm responding here to concerns about eating/drinking and more in hospital settings. Many problems can be avoided by having someone ambulatory--friend or family--be with the patient. Consent needs to be given for procedures, so if the patient is unable to communicate it is good to have someone there with medical power of attorney. My advice for someone who is completely on their own in a hospital is to get support from hospital clergy and/or social worker. They really can help. Consent can be a gray zone in an emergency, and many situations are far from perfect. My experience has taught me that non-medical support is often needed by the patient. A person can also ask to be discharged from a hospital to hospice. These are difficult subjects--and I'm glad those of you commenting have the courage to examine them!

@kayraymat some patients are in a state where they are not aware of what’s going on, and fight tubes and intravenous lines. In this case intervention is necessary, but if the patient has made a written decision for DNR that includes “no extraordinary measures”, intubating that person would fall under the “DNR” category. It’s usually people who are well into their eighties and beyond, who would add a written “no extraordinary measures” clause to the DNR. I am not an expert, however - it is just what I understand about DNR.

What I mean is, people requesting a DNR should be very specific about what they want before they are in a state where they cannot articulate it. In other words, make up a Living Will. Here’s what I found when I Googled that:
https://www.rvlaw.ca/living-wills-questions-and-answers/