Role of the national bioethics committee

The national bioethics committee (VSN) evaluates applications for research intended to be conducted on humans and concerning their health. The research focuses on diseases and their diagnosis, genetic diseases, experiments with new medicines or new methods to diagnose, cure or relieve suffering.

The Minister appoints a seven-person scientific ethics committee (VSN) for four years at a time to deal with scientific research in the health field. One member is appointed by the Minister of Science, one by the Minister of Human Rights, one by the Directorate of Health, one by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Iceland and one by the Institute of Ethics at the University of Iceland. Two are appointed without a nomination. The Minister appoints the Chairperson from among the members. Deputies are appointed in the same manner. The committee shall consist of individuals with expertise in the fields of methodology in health sciences, ethics, law and data protection.

Individuals are members of the VSN because of the knowledge and experience required for the committee to fulfill its role. The committee only works during meetings that are held every two weeks during the winter, but there is a break during the summer (July – August). See the advertised meeting dates elsewhere on the site.

The Committee's Secretariat prepares its meetings, receives documents, processes the Committee's conclusions, stores its documents, provides information to both participants in studies and those who plan studies that are liable to be authorized by the Committee (see the Criteria section). Finally, the Secretariat monitors and participates in international cooperation between sister institutions.

The Committee covers 200 new projects annually, with a total of 700 - 800 deliveries per year.