Medical Knowledge-Related Suicide in Hemodialysis Therapy Among Older Adults with Severe Comorbidities - A Case Report

Many physical, mental and behavioral problems arise with aging. In many countries worldwide, suicide in the elderly is a cause of death that has increased frequently in recent years. In this case report, we present a case of an 86-year-old man (body weight 55 kg, body length 144 cm, BMI 26.5) who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lung cancer, and chronic renal failure. He was undergoing hemodialysis three days a week for a month with a central venous catheter (CVC). He experienced depressed mood, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances after starting CVC. He was found dead in his bathroom, lying in a pool of blood next to a bloody pair of scissors. The autopsy and investigative reports concluded that his death resulted from "external bleeding due to suicidal cutting of a central venous catheter." Recognizing the risk of "medical knowledge-related suicide" in elderly patients requires understanding their physical and mental challenges. Instances like catheter cutting highlight the importance of assessing patients' medical histories to estimate suicide risk, urging healthcare vigilance and preventive actions for vulnerable individuals. We believe that screening elderly with chronic conditions for suicide risk and providing timely psychiatric support can safeguard this population.