44% of Russian doctors are ready to take reasonable risks only if their work is assessed by an independent panel of experts, according to a survey conducted by the RNC Pharma analyst company and the platform for doctors Medvestnik. Due to a series of high-profile criminal cases, the doctors do not seem to trust the existing judicial system and do not believe that courts can come to an objective decision. Another 27% of the respondents are afraid that they will be made scapegoats in the end, which also shows their lack of confidence in the existing administrative system in healthcare. Around 7% of the study participants are not inclined to take risks, since they prefer to follow the regulations. Only 4% said that doctors had no right to take risks and must be sure of the result.

Even despite the high level of distrust in social institutions, a significant number of the doctors (16%) are already taking risks on their own account. It is also noteworthy that this response option had statistically significant differences depending on the age of the respondent. It was nearly twice as popular among the specialists belonging to the age group of “over 55 y.o.” as it was among the group of “under 55 y.o.” (20% and 11%, respectively).

Do you feel ready to take a reasonable risk when providing medical care, if the corresponding concept is enshrined in the law “On Basics of Health Protection of the Citizens in the Russian Federation”? (single-answer question)