Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Jun 1991
Nephrologists' reported attitudes about factors influencing recommendations to initiate or withdraw dialysis.
A nationwide survey of nephrologists was performed to learn which patient factors and characteristics of nephrology fellowship training they reported as influencing their decisions to start or stop dialysis. One hundred seventy-four of 482 responses were received. Most respondents were men in private practice living in large communities (41% in communities over 1,000,000 population). ⋯ Insights about the factors practicing nephrologists reportedly weigh most heavily in making the difficult decisions to withhold or withdraw dialysis are provided by this study. Additional study of the actual practices of nephrologists in decisions to initiate or withdraw dialysis and the factors influencing those decisions are needed. Formal instruction in these and other ethical problems confronting nephrologists should perhaps be included in fellowship programs.