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REVIEW
Ethical and legal issues of medical care in pediatric otorhinolaryngology
National Medical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngology of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence should be addressed: Daria Valerievna Maletina
Volokolamsk Highway, 30, b. 2, Moscow, 123182, Russia; ur.xednay@avohkanamayrad
Author contribution: the authors made an equal contribution to this research and writing an article.
A patient-physician relationship is regulated by the principles of medical ethics and the Law on Healthcare of the Russian Federation. In pediatric practice, ethical issues are even more important. Pediatric otorhinolaryngology is one of the most popular branches of medicine that diagnoses, treats and prevents diseases of the ear, throat and nose (ENT) in children. ENT diseases are most common in childhood. Pathology of the upper respiratory tract and diseases of the ear and mastoid process account for about 20% of all cases. The prevalence of pediatric otorhinolaryngologic diseases currently accounts for 184 per 1,000 children; however, as they age, the chronic pathology of the ear, throat and nose is increasing. This field has its own unique ethical and legal aspects that require special attention of medical professionals, parents, and legislators. In Russia, ethical and legal issues of pediatric otorhinolaryngology have not been addressed for a long period of time, although it has its own peculiarities due to anatomical and physiological features of a child’s ENT organs. The article provides detailed description of ethical and legal problems in the practice of an otorhinolaryngologist and describes how to solve them. Compliance with the rules will improve quality of medical aid among children.
Keywords: legislation, medical ethics, otorhinolaryngology, children’s age