Financial toxicity and dialysis: Autonomy and truth-telling in resource-limited settings

Abstract

From an ethical perspective, resource limitations provide a challenge for healthcare providers. Handling disclosure of the financial details of treatment options in a way that empowers patients, even in the face of extreme poverty, requires careful consideration of the personal preferences and motivations of each patient. This article will consider the high costs of dialysis for patients experiencing extreme poverty in light of various ethical principles, including informed consent and truth­telling. It will conclude that a graduated method of disclosing the physical and financial burdens of each treatment option is the best way forward, particularly for healthcare workers engaged in resource-limited settings.