Suicide by interruption of hemodialysis, in a patient with chronic renal failure. analisis of one case Suicidio por interrupción de hemodiálisis en un paciente con nefropatía crónica: Análisis de un caso

Abstract

In Chile, interruption of hemodialysis is cause of death in 0.37% of patients under this treatment. We report a 83-year-old woman suffering from chronic renal failure who withdrew from prolonged hemodialysis treatment. Biographical aspects, circumstances and the cause of death are analyzed from forensic and psychiatric points of view, highlighting attributes that allow classifi cation of the death of this patient as suicide. Risk factors involved in this type of patients, as well as possible preventive measures are discussed.