Stopping life-sustaining medical treatment: psychiatric considerations in the termination of renal dialysis.

Data are presented regarding the decision by medical staff and by patients to discontinue renal dialysis. Some relevant issues regarding the patients are discussed, including their mental competence, underlying motivation and psychiatric state. Also some of the medical factors involved in the decision to stop treatment are considered.

Initial experiences with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has been initiated on 51 patients: 27 females (mean age -- 43.9 years) and 24 males (mean age -- 46.4 years).