Consensus conferences in different countries. Aims and perspectives.

The different models of consensus development conferences (CDCs) are analyzed in relation to democratic technology assessment. In some countries CDCs are mainly concerned with influencing the quality of clinical practice and thus are dominated by medical experts. In other countries, CDCs are directed towards the public and the decision makers on the political and administrative level. The Danish experience demonstrates that CDCs may be a forceful social technology with a strong potential to influence decisions about medical as well as non-medical technology.