[The use of disease registries--a question of ethics]

The Nordic countries have unique possibilities for performing register-based epidemiological research. Current proposals by the European Community and the Council of Europe may radically hamper such research, however. It is important that researchers enter into the debate and demonstrate the value of such epidemiological research. The article consists in an account of the registers now available that are suitable for use from the point of view of research, and some of the results obtained. The conclusion is that it would be unethical not to take advantage of the abundant source of data represented by the disease registers.