Kidney Function

Specific reasons some people elect not to start dialysis (as they approach end-stage renal failure) or decide to stop treatment altogether despite having benefited from it in the past include:

• The development of an unrelated disease that may cause extreme pain and suffer (such as cancer), serious physical disability (severe stroke or even amputations), or will cause a difficult death in a very short period of time.
• Advanced dementia that renders them unable to relate to others or understand their own illness and the necessary dialysis treatments (possibly brought on by Alzheimer’s disease or due to multiple strokes)
• Severe brain injury that leaves the patient unconscious (e.g. from an automobile accident or from cardiac or pulmonary arrest)

Luckily, the above mentioned conditions are generally no more common in patients with end-stage renal disease. Some exceptions might include a patient that suffers from uncontrolled hypertension or blindness that experiences a stroke or amputations that might have been necessary to treat a severe diabetic.

However, it is important to note that the conditions detailed above are possible scenarios for those with kidney problems just as they are possible threats for otherwise healthy individuals. No scenario should be ruled out, and those that suffer from loss of kidney function especially should be familiar with them.

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