| Theme |
Support for Dialysis Patients' Families |
| Title |
Informed consent and patient's family -- From a doctor's standpoint |
| Author |
Takashi Harada |
Renal Care Unit, Nagasaki University Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
The number of elderly patients with life-threatening complications requiring renal dialysis has increased recently in Japan. A related issue in the treatment of such patients in the renal dialysis unit concerns obtaining informed consent to continue dialysis either from the patients or immediate family members. In particular, when the patients who are in a terminal serious state have made requests in advance or have lost their decision making capacity, the medical staff must communicate carefully with family members to obtain their permission in respect to the refusal of dialysis. This article discusses fundamental issues related to obtaining informed consent in such cases, taking into consideration the dignity of the patient and respecting advanced requests for discontinuation of dialysis. |