[What is the special Nordic in medicine?]

Nordic health professionals often hear the term "the Nordic model" when visiting countries outside the Nordic ones. Such a Nordic model is most often related to selected aspects like the doctor-patient-relationship, the structures and functions of the Nordic health systems, and the Nordic establishments of independent, nationwide control systems dealing with research ethics and research honesty within the biomedical sciences. In the present essay the background for such a conception of special Nordic characteristics within medicine and health services is evaluated through an observation window. The conclusion is that the majority of individual components of the Nordic health sectors, including education and research, are by nature global, but that the weighting and the projection to clinical work and research shows decisive traits, especially related to patients' rights and ethics. On this background it seems legitimate to accept the surrounding world's impression of a special Nordic model.