Medical Education and Research Integrity in Russia

This is a narrative review on medical education, research integrity, related academic and healthcare issues with special reference to spots of bother. Apart from the literature, it is based on observations by the author, who entered the Sechenov Medical Institute (since 2010 University) in 1973, later practiced at different institutions in Moscow. Financial support of postgraduates is scarce. As a result, some of them combine their training with part-time occupations, which are often non-medical. Since the late 1980s functionaries and their protégés, planned for high positions in scientific or educational hierarchy, published largely fabricated reports. Admittedly, some of them have accumulated professional knowledge and experience. However, they contributed to the authoritative management style and paternalistic attitude to patients, disregard for the principles of informed consent, professional autonomy and scientific polemics. Under these circumstances, misinformation, persuasion of patients and compulsory treatments are regarded to be permissible. Suboptimal practices have been used as per instructions by healthcare authorities and leading professors’ publications. Invasive procedures applied without evidence-based indications have been reviewed previously. The training of medical personnel with an eye toward readiness for war has been one of the motives thereof. Shortages of medical education, limited availability of foreign professional literature, partial isolation and persisting Soviet mentality have contributed to preservation of outdated and suboptimal methods in everyday practice. Examples of misconduct (hidden conflicts of interest, manipulation of statistics, misquoting, plagiarism from foreign sources) are discussed here. The quality of research and conflicts of interest should be taken into account deciding which papers are to be included into reviews and meta-analyses.