Icelandic gene database will uphold patients' rights

BMJ 1999;318:806 ( 20 March )

Letters

Icelandic gene database will uphold patients' rights

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ Berger's news story on the Icelandic gene database¹ gives an inaccurate and biased account of a complexissue.

The proposed database will not exclude biotechnology companies or pharmaceutical companies from access to data on Icelandicpatients, nor are exclusive rights given to one company to developnew drugs or to test candidate drugs. These studies will continueto be allowed as long as they adhere to our regulations, whichare similar to those of other westerncountries.

The central database will be privately owned and run, but Icelandic health authorities will have access to the informationprovided that they comply with specific regulations. Other scientistswill also have access unless commercial interests areaffected.

The data will remain where it originates from, that is, at hospitals and health care stations, and will continue to be usedfor patient care and research. Scientists are of course free tocooperate . . . [Full text of this article]