Abstract
Differentiating Suicide From Life-Ending Acts and End-of-Life Decisions: a Model Based on Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis
Bostwick J M~~Cohen L M
The authors proposed a four-square grid distinguishing true suicide from behaviours such as treatment termination & lethal noncompliance. One axis characterizes whether actions hasten death. The other identifies how the patient’s social & medical network collaborate in the decision-making process. Using chronic kidney disease to model intent & collaboration, treatment is framed within a paradigm that reflects both end-of-life decision-making complexities & contemporary conceptualizations of suicide. (36 refs.)