Icelandic General Practitioners’ Association rejects political influence over fit-to-fly certificates for asylum seekers

The chairperson of the Icelandic General Practitioners’ Association has rejected the notion that doctors’ political views influence their refusal to issue fit-to-fly certificates for asylum seekers facing deportation. Margrét Ólafía Tómasdóttir emphasized the significant ethical differences between general medical certificates and those concerning fitness for travel, asserting that the latter contradicts medical ethics and human rights principles.

The association has called on its members and the government to refrain from issuing these certificates, arguing that it violates doctors’ ethical guidelines and humanitarian obligations. Moreover, Tómasdóttir criticized the Minister of Justice, Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, for misunderstanding the issue, asserting that doctors’ stances are not swayed by political opinions.

Tómasdóttir stated, “This is entirely independent of political views,” and highlighted that violating the Hippocratic Oath—specifically the principle of not harming individuals—was at stake. She compared the situation to requiring doctors to certify that boxing is safe, suggesting that it is unreasonable to expect medical validation for activities that could jeopardize lives.

Despite the government’s reluctance to alter regulations concerning fit-to-fly certificates, the association remains firm in its position. The organization plans to continue urging its members not to issue these documents, maintaining that such actions are fundamentally against the principles of medical practice and human dignity.