Selected Aspects of Healthcare in Russia

The topic of this book is invasive procedures used in Russia without sufficient indications. Related issues are discussed in separate chapters: medical education and postgraduate training, scientific misconduct, child and elder abuse, sexual and reproductive coercion, the Ukraine conflict. Among others, the following is discussed: the overuse of gastrectomy for peptic ulcers, of thoracic surgery for tuberculosis, bronchial asthma and other respiratory diseases, overtreatment of radiation-related lesions, excessive and compulsory treatments of alcoholics. Considering the breast cancer incidence, millions of women in Russia underwent Halsted mastectomy with removal of pectoral muscles without indications. This topic is interconnected with certain features of Russian healthcare, namely paternalism, disregard for the principles of informed consent and professional autonomy. One of the motives of surgical hyper-radicalism is the training of medical personnel with the objective of readiness for war. Measures for improvement of the healthcare in Russia must include participation of authorised foreign advisors.