The Danish Council of Ethics was established in 1988 to provide the Danish Parliament, official authorities and the public with ongoing advice and information about ethical problems raised by developments within the national health service and the field of biomedicine.
This is accomplished by submitting reports and statements etc. in specified areas and by mounting debate generating activities in the form of e.g. public enquiries and debate days, publishing of debate books, anthologies, videos and teaching material, and extensive lecturing activities. In addition the Council gives a rundown of its activities every year in an annual report.
History
Ethical problems arising in areas such as genetic engineering, assisted reproduction and fetal examination, caused the Danish Minister for the Interior to set up a committee in April 1984 to look into these questions. At this time an intense media debate about the rapid development in the field of reproductive technologies captivated the public.
In October 1984 the committee submitted its report "The Price of Progress", which suggested that a central ethical council for the health service should be created by law.
Legislation
The bill was passed in June 1987 by a large majority in the Danish Parliament. The purpose of the act is to ensure that advice and information concerning ethical problems arising from developments in the health service and the biomedical field are continuously submitted to the Danish Parliament, the public authorities and the public at large.
The act also sets up a parliamentary committee on The Council of Ethics for the purpose of safeguarding the close relations between the Danish Parliament and The Council of Ethics. The parliamentary committee influences the composition of The Council of Ethics by appointing a certain number of its members. Furthermore the parliamentary committee follows the work of the Council and can call on it to take up certain topics within its terms of reference.
The Minister of Health and the Interior has no instructional powers towards The Danish Council of Ethics and likewise the Minister has no obligation to follow the recommendations of The Council.
Themes
The Council began its work on January 1st 1988. The "Act on the Establishment of an Ethical Council" directs the Council to partly submit reports concerning specific topics fixed by law and partly take up tasks on its own initiative. The reports concerning specific topics were submitted in the period 1988-1990.
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