Legal and Ethical Concerns in Treating Kidney Failure

Once dialysis treatment, in 1960, permitted life prolongation for some but not all patients in kidney failure, an `ethical genie'' was released. The introduction of peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation compounded the physician''s dilemma by underscoring those left untreated. Who should be selected for uremia therapy? Should exclusion from treatment be properly delegated to administ...