Review article
https://doi.org/10.24141/1/12/2/5
The Psychological and Ethical Specificities of Dialysis Treatment of the Elderly
Marta Klarić
; General Hospital, Zadar, Croatia
Jagoda Nikić
; Nursing school Mlinarska, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Dragan Klarić
; Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Zadar General Hospital, Zadar, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Nephrologists often deal with dialysis treatment of
the elderly, considering that life expectancy has been
increased. Somatic treatment has been shown to be
quite complicated, which requires expertise, as well as
empathy. Nephrologists should understand the basics
of psychological functioning in this particular group of
patients in order to enhance competence and decisionmaking.
Defence mechanisms play an important role
and may shape how patients cope with distressing
aspects of illness. Treatment is ideal when a patient is
cooperative. However, psychiatric advice and/or treatment
may be necessary if, for any reason, the patient
becomes non-adherent or refuses treatment. Moreover,
physicians are often confronted with ethical dilemmas
when somatic, psychological and/or psychiatric treatment
methods have been exhausted. It is a physician’s
duty to provide appropriate care to all patients, including
patients with dementia and those at the end of life.
Most of the time, family members demand maximal treatment; however, in some cases, family members
urge cessation of treatment among these patients. The
aim of this paper is to provide an analytical clinical case
discussion of psychological and ethical specificities in
dialysis care in advanced age, rather than an empirical
investigation.
Keywords
elderly patients; dialysis; ethical dilemma
Hrčak ID:
346605
URI
Publication date:
28.4.2026.
Visits: 61 *