Quality end-of-life care in dialysis units

Quality end-of-life care has not been a priority in dialysis units and patients often experience prolonged dying while suffering needlessly. Advance directives (ADs) and decisions to stop dialysis have been highlighted by the medical profession as priorities in improving the quality of care, yet these are only two aspects of end-of-life care. They may not reflect patients' priorities and may not have the expected impact in improving the quality of end-of-life care. This review argues that quality end-of-life care should be a clinical priority in the care of dialysis patients; end-of-life care needs to be developed primarily from the patients' perspective; a clinical framework is required that integrates many aspects of end-of-life care; and end-of-life care should be initiated much earlier in the course of patients' illnesses than traditionally is done. By communicating more effectively and sooner with patients, their values and needs can be identified so we will be better able to plan and facilitate their end-of-life care and improve their experience of dying.