The move is of global importance. We are fast approaching an era in which, for the wellbeing of others, people in many countries will be asked to donate blood and medical records for detailed DNA analysis and research. Some countries enjoy vast reserves of oil or timber. There is nothing demeaning or sacrilegious about attempting to profit from such a resource. Unfortunately for Iceland, the details of its bill look all wrong.
Privacy is a particular headache.
Names and addresses will be stripped from medical records before they are entered on the database, but a mass of other data will stay. It will also need to develop a more sophisticated idea of what informed consent means. Icelanders are to be automatically included in the database unless they opt out. Worse, there is no provision to give people a say on how their DNA and medical records are used. In addition to its symbolic value, this would enable people to vote for uses of the database that they like and to veto projects they consider pernicious.