| Theme | Nursing Practices for Elderly Dialysis Patients -- Report from Expert Nurses | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | [Overview] Reasons for elderly patients to undergo dialysis | |
| Publish Date | 2008/10 | |
| Author | Seiji Ohira | Sapporo Kita Clinic |
| [ Summary ] | Regardless of age, individuals desire to survive for as long as possible and be free from suffering. For these reasons, most elderly patients will select renal replacement therapy when confronted with the terminal stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are three choices regarding dialysis for terminal CKD patients : (1) acceptance, (2) withholding, or (3) withdrawal. The elderly tend to have a negative attitude towards dialysis therapy mainly due to a lack of knowledge, fear of the therapy and resignation towards life. It is up to the medical community to assist the elderly in making the appropriate choices from both a medical and ethical point of view, especially when the patient has chosen withholding or withdrawal of therapy. If withholding or withdrawal are chosen, treatment and care to ease any suffering should be provided. |
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