The Norwegian Health Authority in internal report: Should have reported the Frosta supervisor earlier

This is revealed in an internal evaluation carried out by the Norwegian Health Authority, writes Trønder-Avisa.

Former municipal doctor in Frosta, Arne Bye, is accused of abusing his position for sexual contact with 95 female patients, as well as for raping 88 of them, in the period 2004 to 2022. He has pleaded guilty to parts of the charge.

Already in 2006, the Norwegian Health Authority dealt with a report of concern from a senior doctor as well as written notices from three patients about Bye’s behavior during gynecological examinations.

The inspectorate concludes that Bye would probably have received limited authorization or had the authorization revoked if the case had been dealt with today.

– It is emphasized that this conclusion is strongly influenced by the wisdom of posterity and knowledge that the doctor’s further actions took place over a long period of time, it says.

The report deals with three supervisory cases against the doctor, in 2006, 2017 and 2022. The Norwegian Health Authority points to several weaknesses in the case management, among other things they believe that they should have reported the doctor to the police earlier, and that there was not enough contact with the patients and their next of kin .

One of the most important learning points is that it should be revealed whether the supervision cases concern several patients, the Norwegian Health Authority believes. In the report of concern from 2006, it emerged that up to ten other women could have been exposed to the same treatment, but this was never investigated.