What happens if I decide
to stop my dialysis?
Hope Building
Renal Services
0161 206 1882
© G15061903W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, All Rights Reserved 2015.
Document for issue as handout. Unique Identifier: NOE32(15). Review date: July 2017
Why do people choose to stop their dialysis?
l Some people choose to stop
their dialysis because their
health is deteriorating
Things to consider if you are
thinking of stopping your
dialysis:
l Some people choose to
stop their dialysis because
they feel their quality of
life on dialysis has become
unbearable
1 Who are you going to discuss
your thoughts with about
wanting to stop your dialysis.
This may be a member of the
kidney team (doctor, nurse
or other member of staff), a
family member, a friend or a
religious / spiritual personnel.
l Personal feelings, individual
circumstances and emotions
all may influence a person’s
decision to stop their dialysis
l The kidney doctors may
discuss with you the option
of stopping your dialysis
treatment
2. Your reasons for wanting to
stop your dialysis.
3. When you want to stop - you
can choose a date.
4. Where you prefer to die at home, in a hospice or in
hospital.
What happens if I decide to stop my dialysis?
There may come a time when
you feel you want to stop your
dialysis treatment. People stop
their dialysis for many reasons.
People do have the right to
stop their dialysis if they wish.
However, it is important that
you discuss this with your
family or person you are close
to and the kidney team. Your
dialysis won’t stop until you,
your kidney doctors and nurses
and your family have had time
to discuss your reasons for
wanting to stop.
Deciding to stop dialysis may
be a very difficult decision
and some people may want
emotional support if they are
going through a difficult time.
Our renal psychologist is
available to talk to people who
would like support or who
would just like to talk about
their situation to a person who
is not a family member or part
of the medical team.
These discussions can take place
in the kidney unit or the out
patients clinic. You can continue
with your dialysis whilst these
discussions are taking place.
Many people find it difficult
to talk to loved ones about
stopping dialysis, because they
are often afraid of how they
might react. A member of your
kidney team can be present
when you tell your loved ones
about your wishes, if this is
what you want.
1
Sometimes we ask people to
have a discussion with our renal
psychologist before making
their decision to stop dialysis.
The reason we ask people
to do this is that we want to
make sure that they think
their decision through before
deciding to stop.
continued page 3
© G15061903W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust,
All Rights Reserved 2015. Document for issue as handout.
Unique Identifier: NOE32(15). Review date: July 2017
2
The psychologist will offer you
emotional support if you would
like it and may ask you what
you feel the advantages and
the disadvantages are with
continuing or stopping dialysis.
The kidney doctors, kidney
nurses, chaplain and social
workers are also available to
talk to you if you wish.
These symptoms will not
develop all at once but may
gradually appear. It is difficult
to make any predictions
about when you may develop
symptoms and this depends
upon a range of medical
conditions.
This will be discussed with you
on an individual basis by the
kidney doctors and nurses.
What happens when
dialysis treatment is
stopped?
Medication for each symptom
will be given to you as it
happens in an attempt to keep
you as symptom free as possible.
Initially when your dialysis has
stopped you may continue
to feel no different and
continue to eat and drink.
Waste products and fluid will
gradually build up in your body
and symptoms may develop.
Discussing your wish to stop
dialysis allows you and your
family / friends time to talk
about where you want to be
cared for in your last days.
This care may be provided
at home, in a hospice or in
hospital. Your wishes about
where you want to die will be
honoured if possible. Your GP,
district nursing team and the
community Macmillan team
may be involved in providing
care for you and your loved
These may include feeling sick,
itching, shortness of breath,
twitching of limbs and general
tiredness.
3
ones at home. Some people
choose to die in a hospice, this
can be made possible but only
if a bed is available at the time.
The kidney team will discuss
with you plans for your care
and make arrangements to
involve any other care services
that may be required.
Whilst we try the best we can to
follow your wishes, sometimes
it is not possible.
For example a bed may not be
available in your local hospice
at exactly the time that it is
needed.
If this is the case we will discuss
this with you and your family
and work with the community
or hospital teams as appropriate
to provide an alternative place
to provide your care.
© G15061903W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust,
All Rights Reserved 2015. Document for issue as handout.
Unique Identifier: NOE32(15). Review date: July 2017
4
Is stopping dialysis
considered suicide?
Advance Care Planning:
what is it?
No. Stopping dialysis is like
any other choice people make
when they decide their life has
become unbearable because of
the treatment they are having.
What makes this decision
difficult is that without the
dialysis treatment you will die
relatively quickly.
Whether you choose to stop
dialysis or not you may wish
to consider having a personal
care plan of what you want
to happen in the future with
regards your preferences and
priorities for your care. The
doctors and nurses can help you
complete an advance care plan.
There are different types
You may wish to speak with
your religious advisor if you
are concerned that your faith
or culture has a different view.
We can arrange this for you, if
you do not have someone to
discuss this with.
Can I change my mind
and go back on dialysis?
Yes. If you change your mind
and decide to go back on
dialysis you must inform your
kidney doctor or nurse as soon
as possible.
5
of document used, in the
community your GP or district
nurse may help you complete
a Preferred Priorities for Care
document or the kidney team
may help you complete a My
Wishes document.
This gives you the opportunity
to write down your thoughts
and your wishes and will
provide instruction to the
medical team and your family
and share with them what
is important for you in your
future care.
This document is written by
yourself with help from the
nursing or medical team
and is your document. The
kidney team will ask you
if they can keep a copy of
your ‘My Wishes’ or P.P.C.
for your hospital records,
the original copy is for you
to keep.
This means you can
share this information
with others who may be
involved in your care, G.P.
or district nurse.
Your views may change
over time and your P.P.C. /
advanced care plan can be
regularly reviewed with
your kidney team and
you can change which is
written down.
If you wish to discuss any
of the information in this
booklet, please contact:
© G15061903W. Design Services, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust,
All Rights Reserved 2015. Document for issue as handout.
Unique Identifier: NOE32(15). Review date: July 2017
6
© G15061903W. Design Services
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
All Rights Reserved 2015
This document MUST NOT be photocopied
Information Leaflet Control Policy:
Unique Identifier: NOE32(15)
Review Date: July 2017
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used, please contact 0161 206 1882
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treatment / service.
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