Medical Ethics

ISSN Print 2713-0894 ISSN Online 2713-0908

BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL OF ERMC EASTERN EUROPEAN

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Issue 1, 2026

Topic The ethics of Matvey Yakovlevich Mudrov

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Issue 4, 2024

Topic Implementation of neurotechnologies. Development of ethical guidelines

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Issue 1, 2025

Topic Amendments and additions to the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association "Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects"

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Issue 2, 2025

Topic Bioethical problems of quantum computing

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Issue 3, 2025

Topic Space biology, space medicine and space psychologyin the context of "human sciences"

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Issue 4, 2025

Topic Ethical aspects and prospects of space exploration and exploitation

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New articles

Gidirim UO, Beliaeva AM

The article presents an ethical analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials (PCTs) conducted in developing countries in situations where effective treatment already exists elsewhere in the world. The authors examine a fundamental contradiction: the use of a placebo often becomes feasible only because of global inequality in access to healthcare, whereby the actual standard of care for the local population is the complete absence of treatment. Through two case studies: trials of drugs for HIV prevention and for the treatment of infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) — the ambiguity of ethical evaluation is demonstrated. The key criterion for the acceptability of a PCT is identified as the degree of potential harm: while in the case of HIV the risk to participants was high but not fatal, in the case of IRDS the use of a placebo directly endangered the lives of infants. To provide a philosophical foundation for the problem, the authors employ John Rawls’ thought experiment of the “veil of ignorance” and Gerald Cohen’s test of interpersonal justifiability. From Rawls’ perspective, PCTs perpetuate injustice, because the standard of care cannot depend on a patient’s place of residence, and no one would agree to risk their life due to the contingency of being born in a poor country. Cohen’s test reveals the moral deficiency in the pharmaceutical companies’ reasoning: they themselves contribute to the inaccessibility of medicines and then use this as a justification for placebo controls. The conclusions argue for the necessity of a differentiated approach: prohibition of PCTs when lethal risks are involved, and permissibility only under the condition that the research is aimed at developing accessible treatment for the same vulnerable population.

Received: 2026-03-13

Published online: 2026-05-21

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2026.011

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VIEWS 26

Rutkovskaya LM

The article analyzes the image of healthcare professionals shown in Russian poetry of the XX century through the lens of a duty. The topic declared as the subject of a special comprehensive survey has not been brought up in the Russian scientific field. The notion of ‘a duty’ is defined, a summary of research literature related to this issue is provided. The author mentions that the category of a doctor’s professional duty, which appeared in Russian poetry in the beginning of the XX century only, is firmly fixed and reflected herein during the entire investigated period. Meanwhile, poetry provides examples both for children and adults. In this paper, pieces of poetry by Mayakovsky VV, Chukovsky KI, Drunina YV, Zabolotsky NA and Rutkovsky MA have been analyzed. It is indicated that poetry produces a specific effect on the reader. The author concludes that the images of devoted doctors and nurses that have been created by Russian poets can play a significant methodological and educational role in developing the professional identity and personality of future healthcare professionals.

Received: 2026-04-02

Published online: 2026-05-10

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2026.010

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VIEWS 87

Sokolova OV, Zheltkevich OV, Kalabekova SV

The paper analyzes information security issues in Russian healthcare in the context of digital transformation. Digitalization of the healthcare sector, including integration of information systems of medical and pharmaceutical organizations with the Uniform State Health Information System (EGISZ), improves the quality of medicines and healthcare provided to the population. Meanwhile, the risk of patient personal data leakage and computer attacks on healthcare organizational information systems is increasing. The purpose of the study is to develop an integrated approach to information security in medical and pharmaceutical organizations. The research uses content analysis, logical and structural analysis of scientific papers and regulatory legal acts in the field of information technology in healthcare. The authors identify the stages of information security regulation from protecting medical secrets to categorizing critical information infrastructure and using domestic software. The classification of security threats to digital systems is provided based on the location of the threat source depending on whether they originate outside or inside the organization’s network perimeter. The directions and evaluation criteria for improving information security are provided based on modern methods and technologies of information protection, including technical means of protection, legal mechanisms, as well as organizational and managerial methods.

Received: 2026-04-10

Published online: 2026-04-27

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2026.009

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VIEWS 135

Bozhkova AG, Melkumyan AR, Spivak MV

Biobanking of patient- isolated microbial strains is a critically important tool for modern biomedical research, though it is associated with a complex of unresolved ethical and legal issues. The goal of this paper is to analyze the issues based on biobanking case studies at the National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology named after Ryzhykh AN. The focus is on the contradictions between the need for scientific progress and respect for the rights of donors, including obtaining informed consent and ensuring data confidentiality. The study material included legal documents and internal regulations describing how to work with microbial collections. During the analysis, isolated Russian legislation, lack of a clear legal status for biological samples and dependence of ethical aspects of work on local protocols and internal policy of the institution have been found out. The key conclusion is the urgent need to develop a specialized regulatory system that harmonizes the principles of bioethics with the practical tasks of biobanking, establishing clear rules for handling a patient’s microbiota and consent management mechanisms.

Received: 2026-02-28

Published online: 2026-03-31

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2026.008

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VIEWS 190

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Popular articles

Sokolova OV, Kulikova OA, Alekseeva KS, Kulikova AA

Distance retail sale of medicines is a mechanism that makes pharmaceutical care more accessible. The objective of the study is to analyze the legal and ethical framework surrounding online retail sales of medicines. The subject of the study is the regulation of ethical standards for consulting in online retail sale of medicines. The study methodology involved first identifying the conditions for remote drug sales and then determining the requirements for this trade method. The research materials included regulatory documents and scientific publications focused on the remote retail sale of medicines. The methods of content analysis, comparison and generalization were used. During the study it has been found out that the current legal frameworks govern how pharmacists comply with ethical standards, specifically addressing the remote sale of medicines. It has been established that, regardless of the method of ordering, information about medicines is provided to customers by a qualified employee of a pharmacy on a professional basis.

Received: 2025-11-10

Published online: 2025-12-08

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.025

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VIEWS 628

Lileeva EG, Fomina IA, Galeeva EV, Chekanova YV, Bocharova IV

This review summarizes and analyses methods for controlling ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) impurities in pharmaceutical products. Contamination of medicinal products with these substances threatens the safety of patients, which is confirmed by numerous mass poisoning incidents throughout history and in modern times. The main reason is using toxic glycols instead of safe fillers such as propylene glycol and glycerol. The article presents systematic review of modern EG and DEG determining methods that range from standard pharmacopoeia methods to perspective screening tools. Particular attention is given to the relevance of development and implementation of prompt, precise and affordable screening solutions to be used at all stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The World Health Organization (WHO) Initiatives, including the target product profile (TPP), which aims to enforce these solutions, have been reviewed. It is emphasized that shifting from traditional centralized laboratory testing to decentralized methods is essential to prevent falsification and ensure safety of patients.

Received: 2025-11-10

Published online: 2025-12-03

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.023

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VIEWS 620