Stepan Firstov received an invitation letter from the World Medical Association Secretariat to attend an online meeting on the Environment Caucus, which took place on 15 April 2021. Among participants, there were prominent representatives of the world medical associations from the US, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Spain, Finland, South Africa, Myanmar, Kuwait, Palestine, Malaysia and Russia as well as medical students form different countries.
Stepan Firstov, being a Secretary of the Central Council of the Party of Pensioners on Health issues, a member of the Presidium of the All-Russian public organization Society of doctors of Russia, an Associate Member of the World Medical Association, a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Chelyabinsk region, showed a genuine interest in the agenda issues.
It started with the presentation of MPH, FACP, FACOEM, MD, Dr. Peter Orris, Professor and Chief of Occupational and Environmental Medicine University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, the United States. In his speech, he reported on Health, environmental and human impact of ethylene oxide as a sterilant when asepticizing medical equipment and tools. The presentation included data on the production of this chemical substance, its characteristics, usage methods and research results of negative impact on humans in a direct contact with carcinogen.
An active debate drew participants' attention to conclusion on necessity of extra researches and alternative sterilants that had to be found for the benefit of the environment.
The next agenda issue was devoted to the renewed planetary health pledge for health professionals, which considered not only physician and patient relationship as it used to be, but also care for our planet. Compliers highlighted attention on the Anthropocene epoch, in which we live now, human and nature relationship and impact that man has on the environment in course of its activity. Moreover, commitment to the principals of planetary health turned to be important for the future multi-professional cooperation and to solve growing challenges of Anthropocene. More information on the pledge can be found in the international journal «The Lancet».
Considering many comments, it became obvious, that opinions differed. Some of the participants were for the standard pledge, which covers only physician and patient relationship aspect. The others cheered addition of the planetary health. It was to be mentioned, that the renewed pledge content must be corrected a little and smaller of size. «I support position of Joe Heyman, the WMA Associate Membership Chair, and absolutely solider with him in relation, that a patient for a doctor is always at the first place, otherwise we should consider the modern policy related to the planetary health.» expressed his opinion Stepan Firstov.
As a result, discussed topics were quite extensive and required more refinement and attention from the expert community taking into account the international Code of Medical Ethics.