It is hard to know when someone is near death. The experts are often wrong. My grandmother lived well for several years after the doctor predicted that the end was near for her. Deciding what to do regarding treatment of a seriously ill elderly person is a difficult decision, and not one I would like to made according to a set of guidelines established by bureaucrats, not matter how well intentioned they may be. Here is a discussion of how this is currently handled by the National Health Service in Great Britain.