Physical interventions and aversive techniques in relation to people with learning disabilities in Norway
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200200004 |
| Pages | 25-32 |
| Published date | 01 February 2002 |
| Date | 01 February 2002 |
| Author | Ole Røed,Aslak Syse |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 4 Issue 1 • February 2002 © Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited 25
key words
abstract
We start this paper by discussing some ideological, moral and
practical problems that govern the legalisation of use of any
force, or coercive measures, in providing care for, or delivering
services to, adults with challenging behaviour. Second, we
outline the Norwegian law regulating this field and give some
information as to our experiences of operating with it so far.
Our perspective is restricted to persons with mental
retardation, or learning disabilities, and the problems that
arise when they disengage from services or otherwise behave
in conflict with what seems to be their best interests.
In Norway, services for mentally retarded people were de-
institutionalised in the early 1990s, by a specific parliamentary
act. In 1990 some 5,000 people lived in such institutions on a
full-time basis, and some 5,000 more on a part-time basis.
Since then the social services department of each local
authority/community provides all services for people with
intellectual disabilities whereas previously such services were
administratively based at county level and delivered as
‘specialised’ health services. The keywords for the reform were
‘normalisation’, ‘participation’ and ‘integration’.
State funds were correspondingly reallocated from the 19
counties to the 435 communities, which differ significantly in
Physical interventions and
aversive techniques in
relation to people with
learning disabilities in
Norway Ole Tom Røed
Lawyer and Secretary General of the National
Board for the Evaluation of the Legal Safeguards
and Services for Mentally Disabled People with
Challenging Behaviour
Aslak Syse
Professor in Public and International Law,
University of Oslo, and Chair of the
National Board
physical interventions
regulation
social care services
human rights
Behaviour programmes
containing aversive elements came
under scrutiny in Norway following
the de-institutionalisation of people
with learning disabilities in the early
nineties.A special act was
introduced to limit and regulate the
need for such measures.This paper
describes the situation prior to the
act and outlines the arguments used
in favour of and against it. The
authors also report on a board
specially appointed to evaluate the
act.
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