A Norwegian court has sentenced former general practitioner Arne Bye to 21 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of dozens of women — a landmark ruling that has shocked the nation and exposed deep breaches of trust within the healthcare system.
Bye, 55, was convicted on 70 counts of rape and sexual assault, as well as 82 counts of abusing his position as a doctor. The crimes occurred primarily during medical examinations at his clinic in Frosta, a small town of fewer than 3,000 people near Trondheim, over a period spanning nearly two decades.
Judge Espen Haug, delivering the maximum sentence under Norwegian law, described the case as “very serious” and condemned Bye’s actions as a grave betrayal of his patients’ trust. “His actions happened in a setting where people are supposed to feel safe,” the judge said.
Investigations revealed Bye had secretly recorded patients using a hidden camera, leading police to discover the full extent of his abuse after reviewing hundreds of hours of footage. Victims ranged from 14 to 67 years old, and the crimes dated from 2004 to 2022.
The court also heard disturbing evidence of non-consensual examinations and the use of inappropriate tools, including deodorant canisters, with no medical justification — acts which qualify as rape under Norwegian law.
Bye, who showed no emotion as the sentence was delivered, has also been permanently banned from practising medicine and ordered to pay compensation. Prosecutors said they were satisfied with the verdict, while his legal team is considering an appeal.
