Opting out of dialysis – Exploring patients decisions to forego dialysis in favour of conservative non‐dialytic management for end‐stage renal disease

摘要

BackgroundDialysis prolongs the life of people with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), but for patients who are elderly and suffer multiple comorbid illnesses the benefits of dialysis may be outweighed by its negative consequences. Non‐dialytic conservative management has therefore become an alternative treatment route, yet little is known on patients' experience with choosing end‐of‐life treatment.