Norway’s Ombudsman Condemns 12-Day Belt Restraint at Ahus

A new report from Norway’s Parliamentary Ombudsman sharply criticizes the use of belt beds at Akershus University Hospital (Ahus), after a patient was restrained in a belt bed for nearly 12 days. The Ombudsman describes the prolonged restraint as a serious violation of the patient’s rights. Belt beds are a form of physical restraint in which patients are strapped to a bed, typically in psychiatric care, to prevent harm to themselves or others. The report calls for stricter limits on how long patients can be held in belt beds and clearer oversight of such decisions at the hospital. Ahus has not yet responded publicly to the criticism. The case has renewed debate in Norway over the use of coercion in mental health care.