Norwegian authorities drop complaint against hospital after Harald Eia pain documentary

Norway’s regional state administrator has closed an investigation into Oslo University Hospital (OUS) following complaints about its involvement in a controversial pain treatment documentary, Dagbladet reports. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from a patient advocacy group, which accuses authorities of failing to scrutinise the hospital’s role in the production.

The complaint, filed by CRPS-fellesskap—a support group for patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)—alleged that the hospital’s participation in Harald and the Sick Popes, a 2025 VGTV documentary series hosted by comedian Harald Eia, promoted an unproven treatment method called Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) without adequate evidence. The group warned that the documentary’s enthusiastic portrayal of PRT risked overshadowing established pain management approaches.

In a brief statement, the state administrator for Oslo, Akershus, Østfold, and Buskerud concluded there was “no basis for further supervisory follow-up,” effectively dismissing the complaint. The decision cited the hospital’s responses to four key questions regarding patient consent, prioritisation of care, and ethical safeguards during filming. Oslo University Hospital had asserted that participation in the documentary “did not grant special priority in healthcare” and that standard procedures for confidentiality and informed consent were followed.

Thea Marie Lindquist Belseth, assistant director of the health department at the state administrator’s office, confirmed to Dagbladet that no additional documentation or independent investigations were conducted. “We have no reason to doubt the content of OUS’s explanation,” she stated, adding that the office’s existing oversight of the hospital provided sufficient context for the decision.

CRPS-fellesskap leader Ina Sandnes condemned the ruling as “unheard of,” accusing authorities of accepting the hospital’s account without verification. “They’ve taken everything OUS says at face value,” Sandnes said, noting that the group was neither consulted nor informed during the process. She argued that patient records and other evidence should have been reviewed to corroborate the hospital’s claims.

The state administrator defended its approach, stating that the complaint did not warrant further inquiry. “We decided to conduct supervision based on the submission and found no grounds to expand the case,” Belseth said. The office also clarified it had not assessed the documentary itself, only the hospital’s procedural compliance.

The documentary, which followed six OUS pain clinic patients undergoing PRT, was criticised by CRPS-fellesskap for creating what it called a “hallelujah atmosphere” around a treatment lacking robust scientific validation. Eia had described the method as “a health revolution” in the series finale.