Eve,
The problem with your father's attitude is that it is going to delay his healing and may also cause some permanent damage. Try USE IT OR LOSE IT on swallowing. If the only reason he cannot swallow is because he isn't taking some pain med, he is being very foolish. He should at least take water or other liquids to keep his muscles moving or he could find himself with very serious permanent side effects. If he refuses the patch, will lidocaine or something similar numb the mouth and throat enough to allow him to swallow? He's a phamacist. If he doesn't like what the docs are prescribing, is there something he is willing to take?

He also needs as much nutrition as he can get so if not taking the pain meds are effecting that it will only take him longer to get back to normal. Get the doctors on you side and see if they can convince him that he is actually harming his chances for recovery by not taking the pain meds.

Eileen