Reasons to refuse or to withold chronic dialysis treatment

(v AJ) Introduction: The literature indicates that progressive aging of the population leads to increasing number of elderly patients with chronic kidney failure, initiating long-term dialysis treatment. ERA - EDTA (European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association was issued in 2016 for treatment of elderly patients with advanced kidney disease. For easier orientation in the issue to withold or withdraw from dialysis therapy recommendations have been made in 2010 Renal Physicians Association (RPA). The issue of chronic kidney disease is also dealt with nurses organization The European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA). Aim: The aim of this research was to point out the reasons, for which patients with chronic kidney failure decide to withold or withdraw from dialysis therapy. Methodology: The thesis was performed through a qualitative research. Data were collected by individual guided interviews. The research sample included five participants. Four individuals decided to withold or withdraw from dialysis therapy and were further followed in the pre-dialysis nephrology outpatient clinic. One participant, who initially had started dialysis therapy acutely, later repeatedly stopped it and started it again with the..