Norway’s health authorities to implement new policies following psychologist’s license revocation

Changes implemented by Norway’s health authorities will not solely affect psychologists but also encompass doctors, nurses, midwives, and a variety of other health professionals. According to Sjur Lehmann, Director of the Norwegian Health Supervision Authority, these changes are prompted by recent cases involving the Nidaros newspaper and NRK, aiming to mitigate risks of similar occurrences in the future.

The reexamination comes in light of a case involving a Norwegian psychologist in his 50s, who was stripped of his license following a criminal conviction in the summer of 2020. Despite his license revocation, he managed to secure a job with Nav, only to be investigated again by police in 2023 when this was uncovered.

Recent investigations revealed that this particular psychologist had found employment in the U.S. in 2024 without the clinic’s leadership being aware of his past convictions in Norway. Currently, health authorities only notify 30 EEA countries when professionals lose their licenses; non-EEA countries do not receive such notifications.

Following revelations about the psychologist’s situation, the Health Supervision Authority plans to modify its policies. Lehmann emphasized the necessity for systematic international cooperation and indicated that future protocol would allow information to be shared with authorities in other nations which have ties to a practitioner, especially if the person’s links include citizenship or education from outside EEA.

As of 2024, approximately 600 licenses are active for health professionals educated outside the EEA, highlighting the critical need for vigilance surrounding patient safety amid cross-border healthcare practices. The Health Supervision Authority also reported that despite inquiries, it has not received feedback from the U.S. authorities or any response regarding the psychologist’s application for license renewal.