Maren Aure (21) was exposed to two serious hospital losses at St. Olav’s hospital in Trondheim after she was admitted as a nine-year-old in connection with an ugly fall from the horse’s back.
The hospital overlooked a head injury on the CT images of Maren. St. Olav’s hospital also messed up the referral to the rehabilitation center, which they were to consider following up on Maren.
Full victory
TV 2 has followed Maren’s struggle to get compensation. Only now – after seven years – did she win.
– It feels great and I am happy that I can concentrate on continuing life and will of course celebrate this, Maren smiles.
She has been awarded just over 700 thousand kroner in compensation after being exposed to errors and treatment failure in the health care system.
– It has been very frustrating to be met with such a dismissive attitude and you feel that you have very little to contend with against such a system. I hope the politicians address this and make sure to go through routines and practices, says Per Allan Auve who has supported the daughter all the way.
– WON: Maren Aure and her father Per Allan Aure have been fighting for seven years to win. Now Maren has received compensation for hospital losses. Photo: Robert Reinlund / TV 2
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Denied compensation
The hospital apologized for the error and it was determined that Maren was entitled to compensation, but both the Norwegian Patient Injury Compensation (NPE) and the appellate body, the Patient Complaints Board, chose to reject the claim for compensation.
– ERROR TREATED: St. Olav’s hospital acknowledged that two serious mistakes were made which after seven years of struggle finally gave Maren the right to compensation. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / TV 2
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Expert experts engaged by NPE and later the Patient Complaints Board, concluded that the mother of the child had become 14 percent medically disabled as a result of the hospital losses. Under strong doubt, the experts placed her a poor percentage point below the limit of 15 percent, which would have given her financial compensation.
– How they could end up at 14 percent, and not 15 percent, I think is strange. It is about one percent, says Maren.
Went to court
After the final refusal of compensation, Maren chose to bring the case to court.
A new expert was commissioned by the court to review the case and he concluded that Maren Aure should receive compensation.
According to Maren’s father, the expert responded that no expert had previously investigated or talked to Maren.
Seven years of struggle to get compensation is now finally over.
– It costs effort and money to fight against such a system and it is very frustrating, Maren admits.
– What are you thinking now?
– It’s incredibly nice to finish. It has been a long and tiring match, but now I will celebrate, the 21-year-old smiles.
Massive criticism
In a TV 2 survey, 18 of the country’s most experienced lawyers come with sharp criticism of the scheme. One of these is Hasse Benberg who has represented Maren Aure who TV 2 has mentioned in several cases.
Minister Kjersti Toppe (Sp) believes that the NPE practice must be studied and, if necessary, changed.
– RESPONDS TO PRACTICE: Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe is a doctor and has worked with health issues for years. She believes the NPE scheme should be reviewed. Photo: Ditlev Eidsmo
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– I believe that it is natural to take a review of Norwegian patient injury compensation and how they practice this scheme. And especially the fact that they never meet the injured party, said Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe earlier this autumn.
Toppe is a doctor and has for several years been a health policy spokesperson in the Center Party. TV 2 interviewed her shortly before she was appointed Minister of State.
Was never examined
When NPE and the Patient Complaints Board dealt with the compensation case, none of the experts met Maren to observe or talk to her. All the way, they related only to epicrisis and patient records, which is common practice.
– COMMON PRACTICE: Vibeke Bugge Møllhausen, who is department director at the Norwegian Patient Injury Compensation (NPE), says that patients are not met for further examination. Photo: Truls Aagedal / TV 2
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Experts have previously stated to TV 2 that this is unfortunate, partly because journals can be deficient and contain actual errors.
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