hi evenkeel-
if i was dying from alcohol-induced illness, i would detox with green juices. get a good juicer and drink fruits and vegetables. the body can and will heal itself with proper nutrition.
it is unlikely, tho, that an alcoholic will get off the drink and go on juices. the medical community will not be able to save him. they will only pump the fluid out of him and give him librium to come down. this does not save anyone.
as for your wife, i don't believe in sparing anyone from reality. i myself woud want the truth, wouldn't you?
my advice would be get a good juicer and get some nutrition into him. if he wants to live, then he can detox with juices from dark, green leafy vegetables to heal his liver and get his blood circulating.
just my opinion,
naive