title: The "no dialysis" option.
abstract: Increasing numbers of patients are starting dialysis who have limited prognoses for 6-month survival. The presence of multiple comorbidities, aging, and frailty contributes to this phenomenon. The rate of dialysis withdrawal has been accelerating over the past decade, and this calls into question the condition of patients who are initiating dialysis. One option is to consider and discuss the "no dialysis" option with patients and family. Patients need to be identified who may benefit from this option, and their medical management needs to be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, UK.
authors.forename: Fliss E M
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Murtagh
authors.forename: Lewis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Germain
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*