Can I really stop dialysis treatment if I want to? Yes. Dialysis patients are allowed to stop their treatment if they so desire. You are encouraged to discuss your reasons for stopping treatment with your doctor, other members of your health care team and your loved ones before making a final decision.

Can dialysis be stopped once started?

In most cases, once a patient starts dialysis, he or she will not survive without it. However, in a few cases, patients have improved and the disease has gone into remission, allowing them to stop dialysis.

How long do patients live after stopping dialysis?

People who stop dialysis may live anywhere from one week to several weeks, depending on the amount of kidney function they have left and their overall medical condition.