Opinion Ethical issues in tuberculosis comorbidity with cancer
Khokholov AL, Chelnokova OG, Skrypnik NV, Dmitrieva AP
An increased number of patients who have tuberculosis (TB) comorbidity with cancer leads to a number of ethical problems. Approaches to treatment of oncological diseases in patients with TB have not been developed yet limiting provision of care to patients with comorbidities. The priority of TB treatment leads to a loss of time spent on treatment of oncological diseases and occurrence of vicious circles when progression of an oncological disease prevents from an effective treatment of TB and initiation of cancer treatment. At the same time, interaction of anti-tuberculosis and antitumor drugs has not been studied, limiting their simultaneous administration. Long-term diagnostics of TB represents an ethical problem. The set problems can be solved during scientific research on TB prevention in cancer patients, treatment of patients with comorbidities and interdisciplinary interaction in practical healthcare on an individual basis.
Received: 2024-12-06
Published online: 2025-03-27
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.034
Comments 0
VIEWS 56
Original research Medical activity during military conflicts in the post-soviet space in the 1990s covered by Meditsinskaya Gazeta
Tumakov DV
At the end of the 20th century, a number of post‑Soviet states faced multicultural conflicts or civil wars. Military actions in Abkhazia, Transnistria, and Tajikistan received widespread coverage in the Russian press of that time. Meanwhile, efforts of medical professionals to localize the mentioned and some other conflicts are often ignored by domestic and foreign researchers. In the early 1990s, the independent international periodical Meditsinskaya Gazeta repeatedly mentioned that the wounded and sick military personnel received assistance from doctors on the front line or in rear hospitals. The newspaper also mentioned the help provided by Russian doctors to the civilian population in the notorious flashpoints. Some of its publications reported on the most successful and complex operations carried out by Russian specialists during those years. In those years, Meditsinskaya Gazeta also reported on the doctors who distinguished themselves during active hostilities or on the fight against epidemics. The newspaper took up a pronounced peace‑loving position. The result of the practical activities of Russian doctors in the military operations of the post‑Soviet space in the 1990s was not only saving the lives of wounded servicemen and civilians, but also an attempt to unite the efforts of the medical community of the CIS countries to restore peaceful life in flashpoints, prevent epidemic outbreaks and successfully combat numerous infectious diseases.
Received: 2025-02-27
Published online: 2025-03-19
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.033
Comments 0
VIEWS 88
Opinion Ethical aspects of artificial intelligence
Ierusalimskiy YuYu, Lukashenko SP
According to representatives of technical sciences and philology, there is no artificial intelligence (AI). AI is just a term describing algorithms that work according to a specific program. Discussing the issues of AI, it is necessary to take into account the ethical part. Artificial intelligence has neither bad nor good intentions. It acts the way programmers write. Humanity can disappear if a living creature will be replaced by a not living one. AI is not alive. A human personality is destructed when they can’t love and be loved any longer. If only AI and machines remain, a human life will cease, and there will be no people left on Earth. This is the main ethical problem of artificial intelligence. AI is a good human assistant, but in the AI–human dyad, a person must remain in charge.
Received: 2024-11-20
Published online: 2025-03-16
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.032
Comments 0
VIEWS 106
Opinion Amendments and additions to the World Medical Association declaration of Helsinki “Ethical principles for medical research involving human participants” [1]
Khokholov AL, Firsov DE, Sopetina DN
The current version of the Declaration of Helsinki, adopted at the 75th General Assembly of the World Medical Association in October 2024, represents a significant step forward in the updating one of the basic international documents defining fundamental approaches to regulating medical research involving humans. The amendments and additions to the Declaration reflect the task of ensuring compliance of ethical principles of medical research with real research practice. For 60 years, the Declaration of Helsinki has maintained its importance as an ethical guide upholding the humanistic principles of medical research, motivating the professional medical community to cooperate and consolidate in the prevention of risks to humans, following the interests of science and society.
Received: 2025-01-27
Published online: 2025-03-13
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.002
Comments 0
VIEWS 127
Original research Non-specific prevention of novel coronavirus infection in the workplace as a component of medical deontology
Medvedeva EA, Marin GG, Chernogorova MV, Bakhareva IR
One of the important factors of medical deontology is the focus of a healthcare professional on the health of patients and colleagues in case of increased infectious morbidity within the framework of limiting transmission of an infectious agent. The aim of the study was to assess the true frequency of regulated use of PPE, including in the provision of medical care to patients with COVID-19, and compliance with the isolation regimen in case of respiratory illness among health workers. The study was conducted using the Internet (the questionnaire is posted on ancetolog.ru) from January to March 2022 (ongoing COVID-19 pandemic). Survey data of 3,570 respondents was analyzed in accordance with the quality criteria for filling out the questionnaires. The overwhelming majority of the respondents were women, 63.6% (2,269 people) and 36.4% (1,299 people) were men, the average age of the respondents was 38.9 ± 14.22 years. Non-compliance with the rules of wearing PPE was detected for every fourth respondent (24.9%), 4.1% refused to wear PPE, and 7% complied with the rules of wearing PPE in the workplace only when their non-compliance could be noticed. The data we have obtained indicates that a quarter of health workers do not follow professional ethics in the framework of preventive measures to reduce infectious diseases, threatening the health of colleagues and patients by their behavior in the workplace.
Received: 2024-12-20
Published online: 2025-03-05
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.001
Comments 0
VIEWS 125
Review Neuroethics in medicine. Pressing issues
Filatova YS, Zolotova IA
The article focuses on some aspects of neuroethics in medicine. Due to the continuous growth of research, new advances in neuroscience, and use of neurotechnology, ethical issues related to personality, autonomy and confidentiality may arise. The article addresses neuroethical issues of management of patients with various neurological diseases and special psychological conditions. The issue of using neuroethical aspects to solve issues in the field of diagnosis and treatment of disorders of consciousness is also discussed. Another important area of research that uses neuroethics is treatment of drug addiction, namely the ethical aspects of using neurotechnology. The authors conclude that the prospects for using neuroethics in medicine are very diverse. It underlines the importance of its studying at all stages of medical education, including secondary, higher and postgraduate ones.
Received: 2024-11-11
Published online: 2024-12-31
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2024.029
Comments 0
VIEWS 246
Review Evidence obtained during real world data analysis: what it is and how we form it
Verbitskaya EV, Kolbin AS
The article is devoted to the pressing issue of using real world data (RWD) to prove effectiveness and safety of medical technologies. The authors consider the advantages and limitations of this approach compared to traditional randomized clinical trials. According to the main provisions of the article, RWD complement the results of clinical trials and make it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of drugs in everyday practice. Key stages of conducting RWD-based research are described such as research design, selection and evaluation of data source quality, analytical methods, ensuring transparency and reproducibility. Modern tools for planning and conducting RWD research are presented, for example, the HARPER protocol template, structured SPACE approach, and SPIFD data assessment tool. The features and limitations of RWD are discussed, including their unstructured nature, omissions, and inconsistency. The importance of observing the principles of transparency, integrity, and minimizing systematic errors when working with RWD is emphasized. There is a growing recognition of RWD by regulatory authorities and a need to develop standardized approaches to obtain it. In conclusion, the authors emphasize that with proper application of the research methodology, RWD can provide valuable information for decision-making in healthcare, complementing traditional clinical trials.
Received: 2024-11-02
Published online: 2024-12-31
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2024.028
Comments 0
VIEWS 269
Original research Framework of risk evaluation of medical AI systems
Volskaya EA, Rogova IV
Medical technologies using artificial intelligence (AI) systems hold a firm place in real clinical practice as the main providers of important information for making medical decisions in diagnosis and treatment via assisting and auxiliary tools in the process of medical care provision. To obtain valid evidence of quality, effectiveness, and safety, AI software developers conduct clinical trials of these systems in accordance with current regulatory requirements [1], guided by the recommendations of recognized experts in the field of clinical research [2]. Ethical committees have a task to conduct a high-quality ethical review of the planned research, taking into account the specifics of AI technologies used in medicine and risks associated with their use.
Received: 2024-11-04
Published online: 2024-12-31
DOI: 10.24075/medet.2024.027
Comments 0
VIEWS 277