Documents

ETENE meetings are discussion forums covering a variety of topics, which are minuted for reference. The numbers assigned to each topic indicate the meeting where it was discussed. Click on the number to view the corresponding minutes. ETENE has drawn up several advisory opinions, either following requests from various parties or on its own initiative, based on the discussions at its meetings. ETENE seminar programmes and publications are also available. The ETENE Sub-Committee on Common Ethical Principles has compiled a set of ethical principles common to the entire health care sector, i.e. both health care professionals and other actors.

Advisory opinions issued by ETENE

• Opinion on a model for a living will
  The working group on ethics in elderly care of the City of Oulu asked ETENE to give an opinion on the model form for living will and its two additional parts. ETENE discussed these models and gave an opinion attached.
  Linkki: Opinion

• Opinion on health care act
  Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has asked for views on a report of the working group preparing the new Health Care Act.
  ETENE discussed this issue and gave a folloowing opinion.
  Linkki: Opinion

• Opinion on alternative treatments
  A working group of the ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE for views on alternative treatments. ETENE discussed this issue in its meeting on Sept 16th and decided to give an opinion attached.
  Linkki: Opinion

• Opinion on total responsibility of pharmacotherapy
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Asked ETENE for an opinion on report on problems concerning total responsibility of pharmacotherapy in public health care. The opinion follows:
  Link: Opinion

• Statement on resuscitation and intensive care of children with serious intellectual disabilities.
  As a response to public discussion on resuscitation of children with serious intellectual disabilities ETENE gave a following statement.
  Link: Statement

• Opinion on the report on the care of respiratory paralysis patients
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE for an opinion on suggestions made by a working group on respiratory paralysis. The advisory Board gave an opinion. See attachment
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on acute care of intoxicated persons
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE for an opinion on the instructions drawn up for the acute care of intoxicated persons. The Advisory Board discussed the instructions drawn up ny the Ministry in its meeting on September 2006. The opinion attached.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on extension of breast cancer sceening
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE for an opinion on amendment of Decree of the Primary Health Care Decree. ETENE gave the following opinion on this issue.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on national practice in the screening of foetal abnormalities during pregnancy
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE for an opinion on a proposal on national practice on screening of foetal abnormalities during pregnancy. ETENE discussed this issue in its meeting on March 22, 2006 and gave the following opinion.
  Link: Opinion

• opinion on EU research funding on stem cells
  The ministry of trade and industry asked ETENE for an opinion on funding of EU FP 7 on research of embryonic stem cells. As the advisory board did not have a meeting during the time opinion needed to be given the chairperson and the general secretary made the opinion referring to the previous opinion on the same issue.
  The opinion enclosed.
  Link: Opinion

• The report on the preparedness for a pandemic
  ETENE gave an opinion to the working group of a pandemic on the ethical aspects of preparedness, treatment an prevention of a pandemic. The Advisory Board wished to get more information on other national vaccination programs, and in the first meeting of the year 2006 the Advisory Board discussed on these aspects and the draft of the working group report.
  Link: Opinion

• Statement on ethical considerations related to preparedness for a pandemic
  The working group on the preparedness for a pandemic asked ETENE for an opinion on the ethical issues related to plans made for bird influenza, ETENE discussed this issue in two consecutive meetings and gave an opinion to the working group. The opinion is attached.
  Link: Opinion (pdf)

• Statement on medicalisation of the everyday life
  Under the spring 2005 ETENE has discussed the medicalisation of the everyday life. During the development of medicine many things in everyday have become more technical and have partly moved to the field of health care. With this statement ETENE wishes to awake discussion on which items should be considered notmal in everyday life, and need not to be "treated" with medicines and other medical devices.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on the signing and ratification of the Convention of Biomedicine and its additional protocols
  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics to give and opinion on the Council of Europe´s Convention on Biomedicine (CETS 164) and its additional protocols concerning organ transplantation (CETS 186) and research (CETS 195), as well as on their signing and ratification. ETENE discussed this issue in its meeting on March 31. The Advisory board found no obstracles to ratify the Convention and sign the additional protocols.
  Link: Opinion

• A hearing concerning the report on the future of health care in Finland
  ETENE was invited to the meeting of the Committee for the Future of the Parliament to comment its report on the future of health care. After hearing the Advisory Board gave the enclosed opinion.
  Link: Opinion

• A hearing on preparing the criteria for care provided within the health care system
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE to be heard concerning the criteria for care provided within the health care system. In its opinion ETENE emphasized the importance of this work to equalise the treatment of patients independent on where they live. ETENE drew however attention to the facts it had drawn also in spring 2004 when it evaluated the memorandum of the working group of access to care and queue management. ETENE drew attention to patients with multiple illnesses that do not fulfil any of the scores of certain diseases, and patients with vary rare diseases whose access to health care must be secured. Good preventive health care and the good collaboration between basic health care and specialist care in different specialities is necessary also in the future.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on the working group memorandum on the extending the sphere of authority of the national authority for medicolegal affairs (TEO)
  The ministry of Social Affairs and Health requested ETENE to give an opinion on extending the sphere of authority of the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs (report 2004:4). As ETENE did not hold a meeting during the period the opinion was to be given, the Vice Chairman and the General Secretary of ETENE prepared the opinion that was later accepted in the Board meeting on June 2th, 2004.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on the memorandum of a working group of the national health project
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE to give an opinion on the memorandum of the working group of the National programme to secure the future of health care: Access to care and queue management. ETENE discussed the memorandum in its meeting in February 2004 and gave the following opinion.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on the memorandum of the working group on circumcision of male children
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requested ETENE to give an opinion on the report of the working group on circumcision of male children. ETENE discussed the report in its meeting on 2nd of July, 2004, and gave this opinion based on the discussion in and following the meeting. Link: Opinion

• Statement about reimbursement of psychotherapeutic rehabilitation
  In Autumn 2003 ETENE followed a public discussion on reimbursement of psychotherapeutic rehalibilitation. It decided to express its opinion from the point of view of the rights of patients. This topic connects with the theme of the year 2003 seminar of the Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics about borderlines between autonomy and abandonement in diseases often considered as self-aquired.
  Link: Opinion

• An opinion on revision of the Act on Status and Rights of Patients
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE views on the revision of the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients, Section 6. Enclosed the opinion.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on allocation of EU-FP6 funding on embryonal stem cells
  The Ministry of Trade and Industry has asked the National ethics Boards for an opinion about EU Commissions about additional instructions regarding the allocation of funds from the sixth framework programme to research projects using human embryonal stem cells. Enclosed the opinion.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion to the Parliamentary ombudsman
  The Parliamentary Ombudsman asked ETENE an opinion concerning not performing resuscitation. ETENE did not want to make an opinion on the case itself, but included principles that it had discussed in its seminar into this opinion enclosed.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on new amendments against terrorism
  ETENE was asked to give an opinion on amendments on penal code and the coercive measures act. While the Advisory Board did not have meetings during the time opinion should be given, the chairman and the general secretary prepared an opinion enclosed.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on the use of drug tests
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland asked ETENE to give an opinion of the drug tests used during work and employment. The advisory opinion is enclosed.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on the bill on infertility treatments
  The Minister of Justice asked ETENE its opinion on specific issues that have been problematic when preparing the Bill on infertility treatments. Among the most difficult have been treatment of single women and female couples, surrogate pregancies and the right of the child to know his/her origin. ETENE discussed these issues in three consecutive meetings and gave its opinion in January 2001.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on bill on processing of personal data during punishments
  The General Secretary of ETENE was asked to join the meeting of Parliamentary Legal Committee as an expert, as they handled the Government Bill 26/2001 on the processing of personal data when carrying out punishments. The Chair and the General Secretary of ETENE gave also written comments to the Parliamentary Legal Committee about aspects they considered problematic in this bill. This paper can be considered as an opinion of the chair and general secretary of ETENE, not as an opinion of the Advisory Board itself.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on compensation on harms caused by lobotomy
  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE an opinion of monetary compensation on harms caused by lobotomy. A couple of years earlier Norway decided to pay an equal sum of money to all patients that had had a lobotomy operation. ETENE discussed the topic in three meetings, and asked one of the deputy members, Dr. jur. Raimo Pekkanen, an expert statement about the legal aspects of this issue. The expert statement of Dr. Raimo Pekkanen can be obtained from ETENEin Finnish.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on involuntary treatments in psychiatry
  The Council of Europe and the Working Group of Psychiatry of the Steering Committee on Bioethics asked its member states and opinion on White Paper on Psychiatry. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE to give its comments on issues in the "White Paper".
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on legislation of infertility treatments
  There is no legislation on infertility treatments in Finland. Attempts have been there for more than twenty years, and several working groups have been working on this issue. An "illegal" situation causes problematic situations, especially for children. While one attempt to get legislation fell down in Autumn 1998, ETENE decided to discuss this issue and gave its opinion in June 1999.
  Link: pdf-document

• Opinion on male circumcision
  The ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked ETENE an opinion on male circumcisions made without medical indications in spring 1999. ETENE discussed this issue in three consecutive meetings. Opinion given in June 1999 contains an additional disaggreeing opinion by one member of the Advisory Board, professor Raimo Lahti. This opinion can be obtained from ETENE in Finnish.
  Link: Opinion

• Opinion on genetic screening
  As its first task ETENE was asked to give an opinion on the memorandum of the working group on genetic screening. ETENE gave its opinion to the Ministro onf Social Affairs and Health. In two meetings ETENE discussed values connected to screening, information given and genetic counceling after screening. In its opinion ETENE emphasized these aspects.
  Link: Opinion

Seminar programmes and publications

• ETENEs report on elderly care
  ETENE published a 24.4.2008 on ethics in elderly care. Now this report has been translated into English. As summary the advisory board states:
  - Treating elderly persons as individuals forms the basis of ethically sustainable eldercare.
  - Eldercare is provided jointly by social services and health care, and comprehensive planning is therefore essential.
  - Elderly people have the right to participate in decision-making regarding their care and care facility.
  - Elderly people have the right to safe medication.
  - The patient’s age should never be a reason for denying treatment. However, age-related illnesses and alterations in functional capacity may increase the risks of adverse reactions to therapies and certain treatment measures, which should be taken into consideration when planning treatment. This may also influence treatment decisions.
  - Elderly people have a right to be protected by society against exploitation and self-inflicted harm, but their right to self-determination must also be respected as far as possible.
  - The status of family caregivers should be reinforced and they should receive better support.
  - Elderly people have the right to good symptomatic care and a dignified death. If an elderly person has issued an advance directive or a living will, it must be respected.
  You can order printed issue of this report from ETENE.
  Link: Report (pdf, 329 kb)

• ETENE:s summer seminar 2007 on health promotion and ethics
  ETENE had its internal summer seminar on ethical issues on health promotion. Now the presentations and the summary made by the advisory board has been published (Summary also in Swedish and English). Here enclosed the main aspects:
  - Health is a multifaceted and ambiguous concept involving, apart from the objective, measurable state of functioning of the human body, also a subjective, experience-based and social aspect.
  - Health promotion is an activity that enables people to control and improve their health. Health promotion is not only an activity of the health care system but it is also influenced by many other sectors of society.
  - Healthy life habits are learned at a young age. Education, worklife and interests and hobbies considerably influence an individual’s ability to maintain and improve his or her health.
  - Social planning affects e.g. how the members of a community are able to operate in everyday life and how good their subjective health status is.
  - One of the most topical ethical questions in the context of health promotion is related to the issue of justice and equality. In Finland, inequalities between the population groups in both the access to health care services and in experiencing health are fairly considerable in international comparison, and they have even increased over the last few years.
  - If we want to tackle health inequalities, resources should be allocated to promoting the health of such groups whose subjective health status is poorest and who have the weakest capacity to maintain and promote their health.

  Linkki: Seminar publication (in Finnish)

• Summer seminar 2007: Needs in healthcare – who or what defines them?
  ISSN 1458-6193:18) ISBN 978-952-00-2329-4 (nid.), ISBN 978-952-00-2330-0 (PDF)

  Summary:

  The purpose of healthcare is to prevent and cure illnesses and alleviate suffering. Healthcare legislation regulates the healthcare system in Finland. The Constitution of Finland stipulates that society must guarantee adequate social, health and medical services for everyone and promote the health of the population. The Patient Act stipulates that every patient is entitled to the health and medical care required by his or her state of health. The duties of various healthcare actors are defined by law. Legislation provides a loose framework for healthcare services but also creates new needs, some of which place demands on the healthcare system.

  However, legislation cannot define what constitutes adequate healthcare services or what kind of treatment is required by a patient’s state of health.
  Healthcare is defined by the availability of resources and the morbidity of the population, which in turn is influenced by the age structure and social structure, lifestyles and genetic makeup of the population. Changes in society can influence the need for healthcare services in many ways. Social policies have a great impact on the type of healthcare services required by the population. Demand and need are also influenced by the supply of healthcare services. Service promotion increases the demand for health and medical services by creating images of the effects they can have on the life of the persons to whom they are marketed. Resources made available to the healthcare system are always put to use.

  The ability and opportunities of patients to define their individual needs and influence healthcare services should be improved. Patients are the experts of their own lives. They turn to the healthcare system when they feel they need the services it provides. Patient needs, wishes and expectations are often associated and intertwined with each other, and distinguishing between these three can often be extremely difficult. However, as long as the patient’s voice is heard, healthcare professionals can provide the treatment needed.

  Needs in healthcare can be defined from many different perspectives. Optimal needs vary depending on the time, community and society, and finding a universal definition is difficult. We need open discussion between many different parties on the possibilities and limitations of the healthcare system, the needs of society and individuals, and the ability of the healthcare system to respond to these needs. Patients’ role in defining their individual situations and expressing their needs and wishes must be recognised and acknowledged.
  Linkki: Pdf-document

• Seminar 2005: ‘Imago Dei’. Man - an image of God or a product of health care
  ‘Imago Dei’. Man – an image of God or a product of health care. 6th Summer Seminar of the National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE), Helsinki, 1 September 2005, 36 pp. (ETENE-publications, ISSN 1458-6193:15) ISBN 952-00-1884-0 (print), ISBN 952-00-1885-9 (PDF).

  SUMMARY

  The National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE) discussed at its 6th summer seminar the image of man, its manipulation and the role of health care in creating that image. The discussion was based on the modern normative image of man from the philosophical and theological point of view. The seminar wanted to raise perspectives on moulding people’s appearance and performance capacity by means of medicine.
  As an example of how difficult it is to draw boundaries the seminar discussed interfaces between aesthetic surgery and reconstructive or corrective plastic surgery. Reconstructive plastic surgery aims to repair tissue deficits and functional deficiencies. Aesthetic plastic surgery mainly corrects aesthetic defects or flaws. Purely aesthetic plastic surgeries are performed in private health care, and they are not compensated from national health insurance. Reconstructive plastic surgery is, as a rule, covered by public health care and the national health insurance scheme. Often plastic surgery aims to correct both functions and appearance. The interface between what is corrective and what is aesthetic is often unclear and tied to time and to the point of view from which things are looked at.
  The seminar also dealt with improving people’s performance capacity by means of medicines, the role of the media in health marketing, and young people’s wellbeing and development in our modern world.
  The Advisory Board emphasises in its opinion that when offering services that do not improve people’s health and wellbeing, health care influences what is regarded as accepted or even worth trying to attain in society. Difference, different appearance, limited capacity and incompleteness are acceptable, relative and subjective concepts. The Board wishes to draw particular attention to the wellbeing of young people and to issues that today constitute a threat to young people’s growth into balanced adults. The Board stresses the responsibility of adults and communities in creating the settings for young people’s good and balanced growth.

  Key words: ethics, health care, marketing, prioritisation, seminars, surgery, values, young people
  Link: publication (pdf)

• Seminar 2004: Multiculturalism in Finnish Health Care
  The summaries of the seminar publications of ETENE can now be found in the web pages. The original publication (in Finnish) can be found from the link at the end of the summary.

  Multiculturalism in Finnish Health Care. National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE), 5th Summer Seminar, Helsinki, 17 August 2004, 46 pp. (ETENE Publications, ISSN 1458-6193:11) ISBN 952-00-1642 - 2

  SUMMARY

  The National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics arranged its fifth summer seminar on the theme multiculturalism and its impact in Finnish health care. The discussion was initiated by, among others, a midwife and a newly qualified nurse who have immigrated to Finland, a teacher of multiculturalism, an interpreter, an immigrant advisor and a representative of the Romani population in Finland. ETENE had also compiled a literary survey on the theme. The Advisory Board continued the discussion on the theme based on these addresses at its meetings in autumn 2004. The working group consisting of the vice-chair of the Advisory Board Leena Niinistö, members Pekka Louhiala, Marjatta Blanco Sequeiros and Sirpa Peura as well as ETENE’s General Secretary Ritva Halila, compiled a summary of the discussions for the publication. It was decided that the summary is compiled based on the joint ethical principles prepared by ETENE previously.
  The Advisory Board stated in its discussions that as a result of the internationalisation development Finnish health care is faced with many challenges in the near future. Representatives of other cultures and foreign languages who are resident in Finland are entitled to equal treatment and the health services they are in need of. It is necessary to discuss what can be integrated into Finnish health care and what cannot. Health care professionals that have immigrated to Finland need special support and training for their work with both representatives of the Finnish majority population and members of other cultures. Joint understanding can be increased by means of interpreter services as well.
  ETENE’s General Secretary has compiled a memorandum of the addresses and discussions at the seminar. The literary survey deals with multiculturalism mainly in the 1990s and thereafter, and it also pays attention to the history of the Roma population in Finland. The joint ethical principles for health care in Finland are attached to the publication.

  Key words: culture, discrimination, equality, foreigner, health care, minority, multiculturalism, values
  Link: publication (pdf)

• Seminar 2003: Borderline between autonomy and abandonment from the ethical point of view
  The summaries of the seminar publications of ETENE can now be found in the web pages. The original publication (in Finnish) can be found from the link at the end of the summary.

  Borderline between autonomy and abandonment from the ethical point of view. The National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE). 4th summer seminar on 18 August 2003, 37 pp. (ETENE-publications, ISSN 1458-6193;10) ISBN 952-00-1458-6

  SUMMARY

  The National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics whose term started at the beginning of October 2002 arranged its first summer seminar in August 2003 on the theme self-determination and abandonment and the relation between them. Particular attention was paid to illnesses and conditions that are often labelled as self-induced. It has been suggested when discussing about the limited scope of health care resources that patients should themselves bear responsibility for the costs of treatment of these diseases, since they have by their own lifestyles or choices contributed to the outbreak of the disease by their own lifestyles or choices. In its discussions the Advisory Board arrived at the following conclusions:
  1. The concept “self-induced illness” is misleading and its use should be abandoned.
  2. A person’s contribution to the originating mechanism of an illness may not affect the care provided to him or her. On the other hand, the patient must be informed about the impact of his or her lifestyle on the origin of the illness, its prognosis and treatment.
  3. Many illnesses, whatever their origin, cause people a great deal of suffering. Prevention of illnesses is in most cases more advantageous to society than their treatment. Therefore it is necessary to increase and support the attempts to prevent illnesses.
  4. People’s own responsibility for the prevention of illness can be emphasised, but it is important to recognise that one cannot control whether one becomes ill or not. When a person falls ill, he or she may not be abandoned or excluded under cover of the right of self-determination.
  5. The borderline between respect for the right of self-determination and abandonment is vague in regard to many illnesses. The duty of a welfare society is to take adequate care of those who have no strength and opportunity to take care of their well-being, health and illnesses.

  Key words: abandonment, autonomy, equality, ethics, health care, justice, priority setting, self-determination, values
  Link: publication (pdf)

• Seminar 2002: Price of care and equality as an ethical challenge in health care
  The summaries of the seminar publications of ETENE can now be found in the web pages. The original publication (in Finnish) can be found from the link at the end of the summary.

  Price of care and equality as an ethical challenge in health care. National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE). 3rd seminar, Helsinki, August 20th, 2002, 36 p. (ETENE-publications, ISSN 1458-6193:6) ISBN 952-00-1269-9

  SUMMARY

  The National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics arranged an internal seminar in August 2002 in conclusion of its first term of office. The seminar discussed expensive treatments and related ethical issues, in particular from the equality point of view. This theme is a continuation to the discussion about prioritisation and equitable treatment of patients in health care that has gone on all through the first term of office. The participants included, besides the board members and their deputies, experts in various fields of medicine, researchers in the field of prioritisation and evaluation of treatments and persons evaluating the issue from the patient’s point of view. The present publication covers a summary drawn up by the ETENE of the discussions at the seminar and summaries of the introductory addresses given at the seminar.

  Key words: equality, ethics, health care, human being, justice, prices, priority setting, treatment, values
  Link: publication (pdf)

• Seminar 2001: Ethical issues related to death in health care
  The summaries of the seminar publications of ETENE can now be found in the web pages. The original publication (in Finnish) can be found from the link at the end of the summary.

  Ethical issues related to death in health care. National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE). Helsinki 2002, 57 p. (ETENE-publications, ISSN 1458-6193; 4) ISBN 952-00-1086-6

  SUMMARY

  The National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics’ (ETENE) theme for the year 2001 was ethical issues related to death and the care of a dying person. The Advisory Board collected the instructions for terminal care applied in various health care units in Finland and used them as the basis for its work. The Advisory Board held an internal seminar discussing ethical and legal questions in the care of a dying person. Also researchers in the field and representatives of relatives were invited as opening speakers. The issues that came up at the seminar were dealt with further at ETENE’s meetings in the autumn of 2001. The present report compiles the conclusions of the seminar and the meetings of the autumn and the summaries of the introductory addresses at the seminar. The report also presents ETENE’s proposals for measures to enhance the right of dying patients to good care in Finland.
  
  Key words: death, equity, ethics, health care, human dignity, human rights, living will, terminal care
  Link: publication (pdf)

• Report on Stem Cells, Cloning and Research
  The National Ethics Advisory Boards, i.e. The National Advisory Board on Research Ethics, the National Advisory on Health Care Ethics, the Sub-Committee on Medical Research Ethics, Cooperation Group for Laboratory Animal Sciences, National Advisory Board on Biotechnology and Board for Gene Technology published in 2003 a report on human stem cells, cloning and research in Finnish. Now this report is available in English. The printed version can be ordered via the feed back page and also from the other national advisory boards.
  Linkki: report (pdf)

• New brochure about ETENE and TUKIJA
  ETENE and TUKIJA have published an information brochure about their function, publications and contact details. The printed version of this brochure can be ordered by telephone, email or via the feed back page of this web site.
  Linkki: pdf-file

• Report on ethical evaluation of reseach in Finland
  ETENE, TUKIJA, The National Advisory Board on Research Ethics (TENK), the National Advisory Board for Biotechnology (BTNK), The Board for Gene Technology and the Cooperation group for Laboratory Animal Sciences published a report on ethical evaluation of research in Finland. Text and the outlook of the publication was revised in Spring 2006. The publication can be ordered from the addresses and email addresses found in the publication or for example by sending message to ETENE via these internet pages.
  Linkki: Publication

• Report on End-of-life Care
  ETENE published a report on end-of-life care in Autumn 2003. Now this report has been published in printed form in FInnish and Swedish, and can be bound in English in ETENE´s internet-pages. In this report ETENE focuses on the rights of patients for end-of-life care. Recommendations can be found in page 15 (Chapter 9).
  Link: pdf-document

• Report on DNA-samples in epidemiological research
  Enclosed a report of a working group about DNA-samples in epidemiological research.
  Link: pdf-document

• Report on medical research on children
  Enclosed the report of a working group of ETENE about medical research conducted on children.

  The working group recommends:
  - that the seld-determination of the child should be expanded with a separate information sheet and consent form. In the information sheet it is important to emphasize issues that are important to her consent.
  - the child should not participate in more than one invasive scientific research study at a time
  - special courses in research conducted on children be organised at the Faculties of Medicine.
  - more thought should be given to who should provide the necessary information about the research and request the consent needed for the research from the child and the child’s parents.
  Link: pdf-document

• Shared values in Health Care, Common Goals and Principles
  ETENE has published shared ethical code for health care in February 2002. With this publication ETENE wishes to rise societal discussion about values and goals in health care. The shared principles have been written not only for those who work with patients but also for those whose actions have an effect in health care at large, e.g. decision makers or politicians.
  Link: pdf-document

• Equity and Human Dignity in Health Care in Finland
  As a topic of its third and Millennium year ETENE had an internal seminar about equity and human dignity in Health Care in Finland. The summary and presentations in the seminar have been included in this publication that can be obtained as a booklet from ETENE in Finnish
  Link: pdf-document

Back to the top