Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Iceland

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Global Bioethics

  • 2887 Accesses

Abstract

Bioethics as a special discipline in Iceland dates back to the 1970s. At first, the main concerns were issues at the beginning and the end of life, occasioned both by new technology and by increasing demands for self-determination in the population. In recent years, the focus has been more on issues in research ethics, particularly genetic research, genetic testing, and population databases. A major genetic research company is located in Iceland which has presented and will continue to present major challenges for bioethics in the country, for example, concerning whole-genome sequencing and personalized medicine. Unlike other Nordic countries, there is no National Ethics Council in Iceland which has the principal task of raising public debate about bioethical developments and policy, and therefore, there is a lack of structure to the public debate activities on bioethical issues in the country. The Centre for Ethics at the University of Iceland, in cooperation with professional organizations, tries to put bioethical issues on the agenda, but they do not have a legal mandate to facilitate public dialogue with the aim of informing the legislator about public concerns and principled positions. The center participates in international research networks. In recent years, there has been a trend in Icelandic bioethics to intertwine bioethics and biopolitics, which places the discussion of bioethical issues into social and political context. Bioethics is part of the curricula of many educational institutions and is taught by qualified people. Decent readings in the field are available in Icelandic. Most students of health care disciplines receive some bioethical education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 949.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott, A. (1999). “Strengthened” Icelandic bioethics committee comes under fire. Nature, 400, 602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, E. (2002). Personal identifiability in the icelandic health sector database.” The Journal of Information, Law and Technology.;2 (online): www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/jilt/2002_2/arnason/.

  • Árnason, G., Nordal, S., & Árnason, V. (Eds.) (2004). Blood and data. Ethical, legal and social aspects of human genetic databases. Reykjavík: University of Iceland Press and Centre for Ethics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V., Ásmundsson, P., Björnsson, B., & Karlsson, M. M. (1990). Siðfræðileg álitsgjörð um skilgreiningu dauða og brottnám líffæra (Ethical report on the definition of death and removal of organs). Reykjavík: The Centre for Ethics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (1993, 2003). Siðfræði lífs og dauða. Erfiðar ákvarðanir í heilbrigðisþjónustu (Ethics of life and death. Difficult decisions in health care). Centre for Ethics and University of Iceland Press, Reykjavík.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2002). Education in bioethics in Iceland. Teaching Bioethics. Report from a seminar (Nord 2002:2), pp 73–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2004). Coding and consent. Moral challenges of the database project in Iceland. Bioethics, 18(1), 39–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2005). Dialog und Menschenwürde. Ethik im Gesundheitswesen. Münster: LIT-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2008). Biopolitics in a democratic society. Bioethics, Politics and Business. TemaNord 570, 15–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2009a). Justice or solidarity? Thinking about Nordic prioritization in light of Rawls. In S. Holm, P. Herissone-Kelly, & T. Takala (Eds.), Cutting through the surface: Philosophical approaches to bioethics (pp. 99–110). Amsterdam: Rodopi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2009b). Scientific citizenship, benefit, and protection in population based research. In J. H. Solbakk, S. Holm, & B. Hoffman (Eds.), Ethics of research biobanking (pp. 131–141). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2010a). Bioethics in Iceland. Cambridge Quarterly of Health Care Ethics, 19(3), 299–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2010b). Moral analysis of an economic collapse – an exercise in practical ethics. Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics (Etikk i praksis), 4(1), 101–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V. (2011). My philosophy of medicine. In J. K. B. Olsen, P. Rossell, M. P. Norup, & S. A. Pedersen (Eds.), Philosophy of medicine. 5 questions (pp. 1–17). Birkerød: Automatic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason V. (2012). The personal is political: ethics and personalized medicine. Ethical Perspectives, 19(1), 103–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V., & Árnason, G. (2004). Informed democratic consent? The case of the Icelandic database? Trames, 8, 164–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Árnason, V., & Hjörleifsson, S. (2007). Geneticization and bioethics: Advancing debate and research. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 10(4), 417–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjarnason, Ö. (1991). Siðfræði og siðamál lækna (Ethics and morality in medicine). Reykjavík: Iðunn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briem, N. (2010). Siðblinda“ (Psychopathy), editorial. The Icelandic Medical Journal, 96, 395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggertsson, G. (2005). Líf af lífi (Life from life). Reykjavík: Bjartur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erlingsson, S. J. (2002). Genin okkar: Líftæknin og íslenskt samfélag (Our genes. Biotechnology and icelandic society). Reykjavík: Forlagið.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz, L., Kirkengen, A. L., Hetlevik, I., Romundstad, S., & Sigurdsson, J. A. (2004). Ethical dilemmas arising from implementation of the European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in practice. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 22, 202–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Getz, L. (2009). Sustainable and responsible preventive medicine. Saarbrücken: VDM Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfreðsdóttir, H. (2009). Fetal screening. Prospective parents and decisions concerning Nuchal Translucency Screening. Doctoral Thesis at the University of Iceland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredsdóttir, H., Sandall, J., & Björnsdóttir, K. (2008). This is just what you do when you are pregnant: A qualitative study of prospective parents in Iceland who accept nuchal translucency screening. Midwifery, 25, 711–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottfreðsdóttir, H., & Árnason, V. (2011). Bioethical concepts in theory and practice: An exploratory study of prenatal screening in Iceland. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 14, 53–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guðmundsson, E., & Stefánsson, J. G. (1989). Hugur sjúklinga til nauðungarinnlagnar á geðdeild (Attitudes of patients towards involuntary institutionalization at a psychiatric ward. Læknablaðið, 75(9), 359–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulcher, J., & Stefánsson, K. (2000). The Icelandic Healthcare Database and informed consent. NEJM, 342, 1827–1830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hannibalsson, A. (1982). Kaflar um siðfræði heilbrigðisstétta (Ethics for health practitioners). Reykjavík: University of Iceland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Häyry, M., Chadwick, R., Árnason, V., & Árnason, G. (2007). The ethics and governance of human genetic databases. European perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hákonarson, H., Gulcher J. R., Stefánsson, K. (2003). Decode genetics, Inc. Company Profile. Pharmacogenomics 4(2):1–7, p. 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helgadóttir, B., Vilhjálmsson, R., & Gunnarsdóttir, T.J. (2009). Utilization of complimentary and alternative health services in Iceland. Iceland Medical Joural, 96, 267–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgason, H. H., & Gibbons, S. M. C. (2008). Certainty is absurd: Meeting information security requirements in laws on population genetic databases. Medical Law International, 9(2), 151–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hjaltason, H., Wiedman, K. D., & Sturluson, K. (1982). Sjúkdómshugtakið, merking þess, notkun og takmarkanir í geðlæknis- og sálarfræði (The concept of disease, its meaning, use and limitations in psychiatry and psychology). Reykjavík: The Society of psychology students. University of Iceland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hjörleifsson, S. (2008). Genetics, risk and medicalization. A case study of preventive genetic technologies in Iceland. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Bergen, Bergen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hjörleifsson S., Árnason V., Schei E. (2008). Decoding the genetics debate – Hype and hope in Icelandic news media 2000 and 2004, New Genetics and Society 4, pp. 377–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jónsson, Ó. P., & Jónsdóttir, A. Ó. (Eds.) (2004). Sjúkdómsvæðing (Medicalization). Reykjavík: Centre for Ethics and University of Iceland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jónsson, P.V. (1989). Að takmarka meðferð við lok lífs (Limiting treatment at the end of life). The Icelandic Medical Journal, 75, 179–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlsdóttir, U.B. (1998). Mannkynbætur (Eugenics). Reykjavík: University of Iceland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristinsson, S. (1991). Siðareglur (Codes of ethics). Reykjavík: Centre for Ethics and University of Iceland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristinsson, S. (2003). Siðfræði rannsókna og siðanefndir [Ethics of research and research ethics committees]. In S. Halldórsdóttir & K. Kristjánsson (Eds.), Handbók í aðferðafræði og rannsóknum í heilbrigðisvísindum (Handbook of methodology and research in the health sciences). Akureyri: University of Akureyri.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristinsson, S. (2007). Autonomy and informed consent: A mistaken association? Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 10, 253–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health. (1998). Forgangsröðun í heilbrigðismálum (Icelandic), pp. 10–12. The report is available with English summary online: http://www.velferdarraduneyti.is/media/Skyrslur/Forgangsrodun_i_heilbrigdismalum_2__1998.pdf.

  • NordForsk. (2007). Cf. Stem cell research in the Nordic Countries. Science, ethics, public debate and law. NordForsk Policy briefs 2007–2, pp. 40–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordal, S. (2010). Tæknifrjóvganir og staðgöngumæður út frá hagsmunum barna (ART and Surrogacy in Light of the Interests of Children). In S. Nordal, S. Júlíusdóttir & V. Árnason (Eds.), Velferð barna, gildismat og ábyrgð samfélags (Children’s Welfare, Social Values and Responsibility) (pp. 89–102). Reykjavík: Centre for Ethics and University of Iceland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Óskarsson, T., Guðmundsson, F., Sigurðsson, J. Á., Getz, L., Árnason, V. (2003). Notkun stofnfrumna úr fósturvísum til lækninga: viðhorfskönnun meðal íslenskra lækna, lögfræðinga og presta (Therapeutic use of embryonic stem cells: opinions of Icelandic physicians, lawyers and ministers). The Icelandic Medical Journal 89: 499–504. English summary: www.laeknabladid.is/2003/6/fraedigreinar/nr/1328/ (visited Feb. 8, 2012).

  • Pálsson, G. (2007). Anthropology and the new genetics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Report, (1998). Forgangsröðun í heilbrigðismálum (Prioritization in Health Care). Icelandic Ministry of Health, Reykjavík.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose H. (2001). The commodification of bioinformation: The Icelandic health sector database. Report. The Wellcome Trust, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigurðsson, J. Á. (2000). Abstracts in English can be accessed on: www.laeknabladid.is/2001/fylgirit/15/ (visited Feb. 8, 2012).

  • Sigurdsson, S. (2003). Decoding broken promises, Open democracy. Free thinking for the World (6 March): www.opendemocracy.net/theme_9-genes/article_1024.jsp.

  • Soini, S. (ed.). (2011). Public Health – ethical issues. Copenhagen: TemaNord 535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefánsson, K. (2007) Consumer genetics [Neytendaerfðafræði], Morgunbladid (newspaper), December 29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefánsdóttir, Á., & Árnason, V. (2004). Sjálfræði og aldraðir í ljósi íslenskra aðstæðna (Autonomy of the elderly in icelandic nursing homes). Reykjavík: The Centre for Ethics and University of Iceland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefánsdóttir, Á. (2006). Innflytjendur á Íslandi: Um samskipti læknis og sjúklings í nýjum aðstæðum (Immigrants in Iceland: On the physician-patient relationship in new circumstances). The Icelandic Medical Journal, 92, 471–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefánsdóttir, Á. (2010). The sale of genetic information: Ethical aspect of genetic analysis. In A. Tupesala (Ed.), Consumer medicine (pp. 27–38). Copenhagen: Nordic Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefánsdóttir, Á. (2011). Offita – sjúkdómur einstaklings eða vandi samfélags? (Obesity – an indvidual sickness or a social problem?). In S. Nordal & V. Árnason (Eds.), Siðfræði og samfélag (Ethics and society) (pp. 143–164). Reykjavík: Centre for Ethics and University of Iceland Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy and Centre for Ethics, Department of History and Philosophy, School of Humanities, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Dr. Vilhjálmur Árnason

Authors
  1. Dr. Vilhjálmur Árnason
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vilhjálmur Árnason .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pittsburgh, USA

    Henk A.M.J. ten Have

  2. Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland

    Bert Gordijn

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this entry

Cite this entry

Árnason, V. (2014). Iceland. In: ten Have, H., Gordijn, B. (eds) Handbook of Global Bioethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2512-6_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2512-6_26

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-2511-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-2512-6

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation