Medical Ethics

ISSN Print 2713-0894 ISSN Online 2713-0908

BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL OF ERMC EASTERN EUROPEAN

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The article is devoted to Kyrgyz folk medicine and its ethical heritage while revealing traditions and methods used in treatment since ancient times. Traditional Kyrgyz medicine has been closely connected with nature and cultural characteristics of the people when herbs, rituals, physical practices and manual therapy were widely used. Healers passed down their knowledge through the generations, including diagnosis of diseases, use of natural resources and spiritual practices. The influence of modern medicine on natural methods of treatment and related ethical issues have also been reviewed in the article. Examples of traditional methods and their transformation in the context of modern medical practices have been provided. The main attention is paid to synthesis of scientific and folk methods of treatment, opening up new prospects for preservation and development of cultural traditions.

Received: 2024-06-28

Published online: 2025-03-31

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.036

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VIEWS 337

Yunusov AS, Molodtsova EV, Maletina DV, Belavina PI

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.

Received: 2025-03-02

Published online: 2025-03-30

DOI: 10.24075/medet.2025.035

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VIEWS 356

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

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VIEWS 310

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

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VIEWS 311

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

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VIEWS 339

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

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VIEWS 347

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

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VIEWS 360

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

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VIEWS 386