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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2009, 11, 2 (pages: 41 - 46)

Substitution Therapy. A New Problem of Biomedical Ethics and Medical Law

Mendelevich V. D.

Summary: Substitution maintenance therapy can be judged from different perspectives focused on its medical, legal, social, economic and ethical aspects. A subject that attracts special attention is the ethical side of substitution therapy. In the opinion of the opponents of substitution maintenance therapy, there are several key ethical problems that make this therapy immoral. From our point of view, it is unethical to refuse a patient this kind of help (substitution therapy). Substitution therapy for opioid dependence should be seen as the most ethical and humane of all methods. The absence of substitution therapy in the Russian Federation puts Russian patients in an awkward position.