Krasnodar, 12 July – Yug Times. The famous Kuban gynaecologist Grigori Penzhoyan has helped thousands of babies to come into the world. Grigori Penzhoyan’s regalia leave us in no doubt as to his workmanship: he is Doctor of Medicine, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Faculty of Postgraduate Training and Professional Retraining of Specialists of the Kuban State Medical University, chief freelance specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology of the regional Department of Public Health. Last week, Dr. Penzhoyan turned 60. On the eve of his jubilee, he gave an exclusive interview in The Yug Times.
Q.: What are the key problems of modern medicine?
A.: Public health service today stays on a completely different level. Now we are doing things we couldn’t even dream of in the past. We have learnt to apply newest achievements, and we have both material and professional possibility to do it.
Q.: What is your attitude to the modern trend of late accouchement?
A.: Negative. Because it was long ago proved that the optimum period for labour is the age between 20 and 30. Late labour is when at first I making myself and only then I make my kids. It’s a wrong approach, because Nature has created human species so that multiplication is their main task. If that wouldn’t be happening, the humankind would disappear as a species. This is why, we must give birth to our kids first, and then make ourselves a career. Or - combine these two processes.
Q.: How would you assess IVF from the moral and ethical viewpoint?
A.: I can’t see here any problem. IVF is a way to overcome insurmountable obstacles in child-bearing. But what I strongly object is surrogate motherhood.
Q.: What do you teach your students? What are your priorities as the head of a University department?
A.: One may be a high-class professional but a bad personality. I am deeply confirmed that professionalism may be taught, but we can’t teach human qualities.
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