By Peter Laird, MD
The NKF posted a video promoting conventional in-center hemodialysis in a video titled Dialysis Saves Lives. The message is true, and few promotional ads or videos show the simple fact that dialysis is a life saving procedure. Yet, as welcome as the basic message of dialysis saving lives is in this video, it does so with a bit of a mixed message from one of it's participants, Grizz Chapman, a member of the cast of 30 Rock on NBC. He states: "Who would want to be on dialysis the rest of your life, nobody." We learn that he was on in-center dialysis for two years while waiting for his renal transplant that now sustains his life. True enough, he never would have been able to receive a renal transplant without hemodialysis for two years, but the distorted message allegedly about dialysis is now subtly once again promoting renal transplant as the optimal treatment, something that NKF continues to promote at the exclusion of optimal dialysis.
Yes, dialysis does save lives and I applaud NKF for placing this message, but it does not go far enough in my opinion. Of the four participants in this video, one is hoping for a transplant, one has had a transplant and one does nocturnal PD. Perhaps I am hoping for more than I can hope to one day see a similar style video by the NKF featuring home hemodialysis patients practicing short daily or daily nocturnal hemodialysis which has similar outcomes to cadaveric transplant.
Despite Grizz Chapman's negative comments about in-center hemodialysis, there are many patients who have chosen daily, home hemodialysis as their permanent renal replacement therapy. I am one of those patients that decline the serious potential side effects of transplant immunosuppression and instead choose home, daily hemodialysis for the rest of my life if need be. It is time to hear from NKF with a positive promotional video of optimal home hemodialysis. Only then shall we begin to gain true reform in the American dialysis industry.
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