What happens when you stop kidney dialysis?

Answer 1

Without life-sustaining dialysis or a kidney transplant, once a person with kidney disease reaches Stage 5 (end stage renal disease (ESRD)), toxins build up in the body and death usually comes within a few weeks. Having just cared for a person who voluntarily elected to cease dialysis, and having been present for the last 9 hours of life, I can tell you that renal failure CAN be one of the "easiest" ways to go. In this case, there were several underlying conditions, so the process only took 4 days. The patient became more and more sleepy over time. She fell asleep about 6 hours before death and simply slowed her breathing down until it stopped. Although this was somewhat faster than most cases, the progression was textbook. In some cases a brief period of confusion may exist for the patient as it becomes harder and harder to think as the toxins build up. It would appear that these toxins act to reduce the sensitivity of the brain and it's ability to communicate pain and suffering. This patient was actually able to greatly reduce the amount of pain medications which she had previously been taking as the end neared.

Answer 2

Increased risk of death (most likely from kidney failure)

It really depends on the health of the kidneys at the time of quitting.

If dialysis was prescribed specifically for kidney failure than the patient would be putting their life at risk by not maintaining their kidney functions.

There are very few other reasons for dialysis to have been prescribed and even then quitting may have multiple side effects and risk factors all of which need to be discussed with a doctor.