– I would like to apologize for my overly strong defense of Finn Skårderud’s work, that time in 2015. Even though I did not have the whole picture, it was unwise of me, says psychologist Karl Eldar Evang to news. Last Friday, it became clear that Finn Skårderud lost his authorization after several notifications from former patients. Through lawyer Halvard Helle, Skårderud has notified that the decision will be appealed to the Health Personnel Board. But already in 2015, the debate about Skårderud’s treatment and method took place, after then debate editor Hilde Sandvik in Bergens Tidende advised patients to stop seeing Skårderud. LOST AUTHORIZATION: Last Friday it became clear that Finn Skårderud lost his authorization after several notifications from former patients. Photo: Aftenposten Psychologist Karl Eldar Evang then defended Skårderud, after what he called “a very serious debt”. Now he regrets: – The regret goes to the whistleblowers. The psychologist has also distanced himself from Skårderud’s previous defense in a post on his own Facebook page. – I did not have today’s information about the warning, and the debate had a different focus (an accusation against Skårderud about the romanticization of eating disorders), but I came across as too categorical and confident in my case, Evang wrote on Facebook shortly after Skårderud’s authorization was withdrawn. Karl Eldar Evang went out at the weekend and thanked the whistleblower Hilde Rød-Larsen for coming forward, and the then debate editor in Bergens Tidende, Hilde Sandvik, for raising the debate about Finn Skårderud. Photo: Screenshot from Facebook Dagbladet has previously mentioned the Facebook post. – It is very difficult to say whether Victoria Nordberg, one of the whistleblowers against Skårderud, was afraid that she would never dare to tell about her experiences again. – It was already very difficult to tell whether such a strong person in Norwegian society, a person who treats had a lot of power over me. Among other things, Evang made it almost impossible to dare to speak out again, says Nordberg. She was Skårderud’s patient for over 20 years, and reported last year about role confusion and a lack of follow-up, treatment and also record keeping. Points to a skewed power relationship In her warning, she points to the psychiatrist’s lack of understanding of the distinction between the private and the professional. Victoria Nordberg was one of those who reported against psychiatrist Finn Skårderud. She said that she was afraid that she would never dare to tell about her experiences again after she saw how hard Hilde Sandvik was stopped in her criticism of Skårderud back in 2015. Photo: Cicilie S. Andersen / news – In 2015 I was 30 years. If the debate had been allowed to continue then, and someone had taken responsibility for examining Skårderud’s work and his methods, actually checking up on what Hilde Sandvik wrote about, then I, and several others with me, might have received help even then, to get away from him, says Nordberg. – The fact that it took another 7-8 years before someone finally reacted is painful to know, she adds. – As whistleblowers against healthcare personnel, one is already in a skewed power relationship. The whistleblower is the weakest party, and it is probably therefore often easy for the supervisory authorities and others to place more emphasis on what the health personnel say. This case has shown that there have been system failures in several areas. Gets support from psychiatric association The head of the Norwegian Psychiatric Association (NPF), Lars Lien, believes the debate in 2015 shows how difficult it can be to come forward as a whistleblower. – In addition, Skårderud has been a big star in his field, and was therefore perceived by many as infallible, says Lien. He points out that withdrawing the authorization is a strong reaction. – The fact that Skårderud was a respected psychiatrist will probably mean that many perceive it as strict. On the other hand, it is the sum of border crossings and inadequate treatment, as far as the NPF is aware, that ultimately brings him down, says Lien. Lars Lien is leader of the Norwegian Psychiatric Association. Photo: Thomas B Eckhoff / The Norwegian Medical Association In the autumn, the NPF set up a committee to look at what they should do to reduce the number of unwanted incidents. Lien believes that prevention is the most important thing. – We must continue to work continuously with new doctors, including those who will become psychiatrists. So we must all be able to notify when we discover that colleagues are not following up on patients as expected, or are borderline-crossing, says Lien. Critic of Skårderud’s lawyer After seven warnings in the Skårderud case, the Health Authority concluded with a breach of what is professionally justifiable, and pointed, among other things, to a mix of roles. – The cases show that you are not able to be empathetic with emotional warmth when meeting with patients, but that you also become private and erase your role as a doctor, the Norwegian Health Authority wrote to the psychiatrist. Skårderud’s lawyer, Halvard Helle, has criticized the Norwegian Health Authority’s work. – The decision is based almost slavishly on the assessments from the two experts. The psychiatrist is actually criticized because he has been critical of their assessments and conclusions, he told news when the conclusion from the inspection came. Helle does not wish to comment specifically on this matter. Calls for self-examination But psychologist Karl Eldar Evang is now advocating for self-examination in the entire professional environment. – This over-trampling is not new. Knowledge of what is “right” is challenged in life as a therapist, in encounters with new patients and development in one’s own life. But we must dare to talk about it, says Evang. He wants greater understanding of the fact that most therapists find themselves in situations that should be able to be discussed with colleagues. If colleagues are silent towards each other, it prevents learning from possible cases of doubt, believes Evang. Especially if they are allowed to develop over time. – When it first becomes a semi-private relationship, then you are in bad shape if you don’t deal with it. One of the measures that can be introduced for psychologists and psychiatrists is compulsory guidance. With greater acceptance that cases of doubt exist, he hopes it will be easier to handle them. – As a therapist, one should carry out checks with each other. Either alone or in a group. To only work for oneself, as sovereign, is dangerous, says Evang.
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– I want to apologize – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
