In June last year, Trondheim municipality reported four doctors to the police for gross fraud over possible misuse of sick leave, according to multiple reports. The background for the report was that the doctors were on sick leave from their part-time positions at an emergency clinic while working as private practitioners during the day, sources said. One of the doctors was 100 percent on sick leave for a period last year, then worked gradually until she was back in full work again, multiple reports indicate.
She could not perform all tasks at the emergency clinic and therefore worked adapted at a general practitioner's office, according to those reports. According to the Norwegian Medical Association, this practice is neither illegal, wrong, nor exploitation of the system. In response to the case, the association has sent a letter to Trondheim municipality requesting an account of the handling of the matter, multiple reports confirm.
The doctor has criticized the municipality for reporting her without contacting her first, according to multiple reports. She did not know about the report until the case was mentioned in the media, sources said. The municipality's action has sparked debate over sick leave regulations and professional conduct in healthcare settings.
The case highlights tensions between municipal oversight and medical professionals' autonomy in managing work-related health issues. Further details on the police investigation and potential legal outcomes remain pending as authorities review the allegations.