Doctor charged with sexually assaulting 88 patients in Frosta, Norway

A former district doctor from Frosta, a small town north of Trondheim, Norway, has been charged with sexually assaulting 88 of his patients. The case is unprecedented in Norway’s legal history, with the allegations encompassing a total of 96 individuals. Among the key evidence are approximately 6,000 hours of footage recorded without patients’ knowledge during medical appointments.

The doctor, identified as Arne Bye, is set to appear in court in Trondheim on November 4. His behavior has shocked the small community of Frosta, which has a population of just 2,600 residents, mostly engaged in agriculture. Frosta was previously celebrated as Norway’s food basket, known for producing some of the country’s finest vegetables.

The lengthy indictment comprises 23 pages, and the trial is anticipated to be one of the most time-consuming ever held in a Norwegian court, with proceedings expected to span 16 weeks. Investigative reports reveal how Bye continued practicing medicine for 18 years after the first complaints against his misconduct surfaced.

Frosta residents remember Bye as a dedicated doctor, particularly for his role during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he was hailed for implementing strict health measures. This starkly contrasts with the criminal charges now facing him, potentially reshaping the town’s identity from a hub of agriculture to one associated with serious criminal allegations. The case has implications for every resident of Frosta, either directly or indirectly.