{"id":"3bd2dc19-d830-4750-aa63-216aee2ac86c","slug":"stalins-mysterious-death","title":"Stalin’s mysterious death","authors":["Miguel A. Faria"],"abstract":"Background: Joseph Stalin experienced dizzy spells and high blood pressure prior to his illness, leading his physician, Professor V. N. Vinogradov, to recommend he step down from government duties. Stalin's reaction to this advice was hostile, resulting in Vinogradov's arrest related to the Doctor's Plot. The night before Stalin fell ill, he discussed the status of the doctors' interrogations with Lavrenti Beria. Methods: The article draws on historical accounts and testimonies from individuals present during Stalin's final days, including interviews conducted by Dmitri Volkogonov and Edvard Radzinsky. These accounts include statements from guards and staff at the dacha, detailing the events leading up to and following Stalin's sudden illness. Results: On the evening of March 1, 1953, after a night of socializing, Stalin was found unresponsive on the floor of his dining room. Despite attempts by his guards to summon help, it took several hours before medical assistance was provided. The delay in medical intervention and the circumstances surrounding his condition are recounted through various testimonies. Conclusion: The accounts of Stalin's final hours illustrate a chaotic and delayed response to his medical emergency, raising questions about the political atmosphere and the actions of those in his inner circle. The testimonies highlight the fear and uncertainty among his staff regarding how to respond to Stalin's condition. Keywords: Stalin, death, Doctor's Plot, historical accounts, medical emergency, political atmosphere, testimonies","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3bd2dc19-d830-4750-aa63-216aee2ac86c/featured/hero-1782420834417.png","publishDate":"2011-11-14T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.89876","categories":["History of Medicine","Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/3668/SNI-2-161.pdf"}