A huge breakthrough has come today for a group of North Jutland women who have been subjected to sexual abuse at the hospital in Hjørring.
The women can now be considered for compensation – even though Region North Jutland has stated the exact opposite in recent years.
– I am sorry if there are some women out there who do not feel that they have been guided as they should be, says regional council chairman Mads Duedahl (V).
But at a meeting of Region Nordjylland’s executive committee, it has just been decided to reassess the cases for the women who were minors when they were assaulted. And that could possibly trigger compensation. Region Nordjylland states this in a press release.
A big case was wound up
The case from Hjørring started when Nordjyske was able to tell in December 2021 about a woman who had been sexually assaulted at the hospital in 1985. The assault was committed by a gynecologist who is now deceased.
The woman’s story prompted several people to come forward. . And it soon emerged that the gynecologist had assaulted at least 34 women over at least two decades up to 1990.
The case of assault at the hospital
- 21 December 2021: North Jutland tells of a woman who, as a 23-year-old in 1985, was sexually assaulted by a gynecologist who is now deceased at the hospital in Hjørring. Based on the case, the management of the hospital – which today is called Regionshospital Nordjylland – opens a major investigation. Based on the woman’s explanation, one suspects that there may be more victims of the doctor’s transgressive behaviour.
- 18 February 2022: After two months, no less than 19 women from North Jutland have approached. All of them report abuse, which was supposed to have been committed by the deceased gynaecologist. According to Regionshospital Nordjylland, the episodes took place in a period from the 1970s until the end of the 1980s. Out of the 19 women, 9 have chosen to start a psychological course to get help dealing with their experiences. At the same time, according to the medical director Søren Hjortshøj, it seems likely that there are probably a number of victims who have not come forward.
- 20 February 2022: Nordjyske brings a story about one of the women who has chosen not to contact the hospital. She therefore belongs to the so-called dark number. She can tell about a sexual assault in 1965 – which thus extends the accounts of assault beyond a period of now 25 years. Virtually at the same time, a story is brought about a former employee at the hospital in Hjørring. She says that it was well known at the hospital that the late gynecologist assaulted female patients. “Everyone knew it and everyone talked about it,” she says.
- February 22, 2022: Another woman tells of an assault. She experienced that her desire to have a child was used as pressure. At the same time, her story gives the impression that it has been known far and wide within the healthcare system that the gynecologist, who is now deceased, was behind violations of his patients.
- 26 February 2022: Ask Elklit, professor of clinical psychology, explains in North Jutland why it has been so difficult for women to come forward – and at the same time also says that when a single woman does it, it can come across as a avalanche. He also states that, for the sake of the women, it is important that the cases come to light – because several of them may need professional help.
- 27 February 2022: In connection with the uncovering of the abuses, it has been clear that people are very divided. On the one hand, there are many who believe that the old cases should be forgotten – and on the other hand, there is at least an equally large group who believe that the cases should come forward. According to the anthropologist and gender researcher Christian Groes, this is because sexual assault is affected by a so-called double taboo. At the same time, it is more difficult for many to imagine being subjected to a sexual assault – than it is to identify with being related to the deceased gynecologist.
- March 23, 2022: Another 15 women have come forward with stories of sexual assault. Altogether, there have now been inquiries from 34 women in the case.
- 25 March 2022: Regional council chairman Mads Duedahl (V) calls the case “a huge failure” in the public sector – and states that it is “deeply, deeply, deeply regrettable”. However, both he and several other politicians in the regional council believe that it will be too complicated to find more victims. Therefore, the politicians will not delve deeper into the matter. However, it is established that any victims are still welcome to contact Region Nordjylland.
- April 2022: Region North Jutland prepares the report “Infringement case from the Gynecological Department”, which takes stock of the case.
- 17 March 2024: Nordjyske reveals in an article that Region Nordjylland has been aware that some of the victims were minors – without the region having told about it. At the same time, Region North Jutland has given the impression that the cases were out of date, which is also not the case. Two leading experts wonder about the way the North Jutland Region has behaved – and at the same time one of the professors believes that the case can actually be taken to court so that the women can receive compensation.
- 18 March 2024: A 63-year-old woman says that she now intends to pursue the case.
At the end of the process, however, Region Nordjylland informed the women that their cases were out of date.
But Region Nordjylland did not state that it was aware that some of the victims were minors. And that very fact is crucial. This means that the limitation period does not necessarily apply.
Against this background, Region Nordjylland’s legal assessment received criticism from two of the country’s leading experts in administrative law. Among other things, Frederik Waage – professor at the Department of Law, University of Southern Denmark – said something like this:
– Jurisprudence suggests that this case may end up being brought. And if I were a lawyer for these victims, I would probably go for it. It will be quite obvious that this case can be proven.
A new assessment
Based on the above, Region Nordjylland’s executive committee has demanded an explanation from the administration – and this has now led to opening the door for possible compensation for the minor victims.
– These are very tragic incidents where there are women who have been violated in the grossest way. And we must take that very seriously, explains Mads Duedahl – and adds that it is very complex legal matter.
– But now that new information has come to light, we politicians must step in and help – together with the administration – to find the best way through this.
Doubt about conclusion
Malene Busk (S) also sits on the executive committee. She is tired of the fact that, among other things, an official report concluded that the women could not receive compensation.
– You probably should have been careful about concluding it so confidently, because there are different possibilities after all. But I think it’s good that we can now get some concrete cases on the table, which can then be assessed, says Malene Busk.
Mads Duedahl is also upset about the confident conclusion in the report. However, he does apologize to some extent for his administration
– We have had a lot of focus on ensuring that the women who had to sit with scars on their souls could get psychological assistance as soon as possible. Among other things, we created an open line and offered help to anyone who might ask for it, he says and adds:
– And in this connection, there may have been a kind of “blind spot” regarding the fact that the statute of limitations for minors could perhaps be challenged, which means that someone may still be entitled to compensation. Our lawyers’ assessment has been that it was not likely that they could receive compensation – but it is very complex law where a definite yes or no cannot be given.
– But I would like to emphasize that we have no reason to withhold anything if there is someone who is entitled to compensation.
External assessment
The politicians in the region’s executive committee have also decided that if women now apply for compensation, the specific cases must be assessed outside the North Jutland region’s legal department.
– We would like to have an external legal assessment, states Mads Duedahl.
– It is important for us that we as a region do not have to stand and evaluate ourselves. Everyone must have the feeling that it is a fair process, where we are not hiding anything. And therefore it will be most advantageous with an external legal assessment.
Wants everything on the table
In the aforementioned press release, Mads Duedahl and the politicians in the executive committee now call on all potential victims to contact them.
In the press release you can read, among other things, that “this applies both to women who have previously approached the region and women who have not been in contact with us in connection with the case. This of course also applies to women who may have felt rejected “.
According to Mads Duedahl, it is important to get all relevant cases on the table.
– It is not nice to sit in the middle of a case where new information is constantly appearing – and where we may have made incorrect assessments of who is entitled to compensation. That’s why we have to get to the bottom now – and I think this is the right way to do it.
– And we mustn’t forget that this is primarily about the women, who want to be able to get on with their lives. And perhaps a compensation can help to give them some kind of closure.
Women who have the courage to approach can do so at the hospital in Hjørring – which today bears the name Regionshospital Nordjylland. This can be done on 99 64 27 05 – on weekdays between 9 am and 2 pm.
also read
Region North Jutland knew about abuses against minors – and did not tell about them
2024-04-16 09:08:14
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