Suicidio por interrupción de hemodiálisis en un paciente con nefropatía crónica: análisis de un caso
Author
Gómez, Alejandro; Médico Psiquiatra. Departamento de Psiquiatría, Campus Sur, Facultad de Medicina, U. de Chile.
Bórquez, Pamela; Médico Legista. Servicio Médico Legal de Santiago, Servicio de Tanatología
Abstract
SUICIDE BY INTERRUPTION OF HEMODYALISIS, IN A PATIENT WITH CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE. ANALYSIS OF ONE CASE. 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 classification of the death of this patient as suicide. Risk factors involved in this type of patients, as well as possible preventive measures are discussed.