State Duma deputy Irina Filatova, aligned with the Communist Party, has called for a halt to the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-11. A Telegram channel report outlines that the suggestion rests on the claim that transsexuality is not listed as a disease within ICD-11, prompting questions about how medical classifications influence public health policy. The proposal invites a broader discussion about how international health standards intersect with national policy and ethical considerations in medical care, especially in settings where political ideology may shape health narratives.
Filatova contends that after reviewing Russia’s gender reassignment procedures, the country is moving toward parity with Western nations in this field. She notes that changes in how gender transition is approached reflect wider shifts in medical practice and social policy that have emerged around the world in recent years. Her remarks underscore a belief that medical procedures connected to gender identity are part of a larger global conversation about patient autonomy, clinical guidelines, and state oversight, rather than standalone issues isolated from politics.
According to the deputy, the rising global volume of sex reassignment operations is fueled by what she describes as promotional efforts from large pharmaceutical and healthcare networks with transnational reach. She argues for pausing ICD-11 updates because, in her view, transsexualism does not constitute a disease and, therefore, does not warrant a medical label in the classification system. Filatova also asserts that the ideological framework supporting these medical practices represents a form of extremism, maintaining that there are only two genders and that people should remain as they were born. Her statements reflect a broader political debate about gender identity, public health policy, and the role of medical classification in shaping social norms, which resonates across different forums and communities within Russia and beyond.
Earlier reporting from Kommersant indicated that State Duma deputies might move swiftly to curb non-surgical approaches to gender reassignment. This development sits within a wider Russian discussion about how gender transition is regulated, perceived domestically, and interpreted by international observers who follow the country’s policy directions. The dialogue highlights the friction between legislative agendas, medical practice, and societal debates concerning gender identity, with policymakers weighing clinical evidence, ethical considerations, and cultural values as they craft national responses to evolving healthcare services in this area.
Observers point to ongoing tensions between legislative action plans, medical practice, and social debates surrounding gender identity. They note that proposals in this arena tend to provoke sharp disagreements among political factions, medical communities, and civil society groups. The evolving conversation continues to unfold as policymakers assess medical evidence, the ethics involved, and the cultural context that shapes Russia’s approach to gender transition and related health services. (Citation: Telegram channel) (Citation: Kommersant)