Norway’s Ombudsman has raised serious concerns regarding the potential for unlawful physical restraint of patients at the Nordland Hospital’s acute psychiatric ward. The Ombudsman’s report indicates a high risk that patients were subjected to belt restraint without proper legal justification or documentation. This follows a review prompted by complaints and internal reports highlighting inconsistencies in restraint procedures. Specifically, the concern centers on whether the strict legal requirements for such interventions – including immediate danger to self or others – were consistently met. The Ombudsman is critical of the hospital’s oversight and internal control mechanisms, suggesting they were insufficient to prevent potential violations of patient rights. Hospital management acknowledges the concerns and states they are implementing corrective measures, including revised training and stricter protocols. Further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of any unlawful restraints.