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AIM: The criteria for diagnosing abusive head trauma (AHT) are not well defined and this condition might be diagnosed on failing premises. Our aim was to review criminal AHT cases in Norwegian courts by scrutinising the underlying medical documentation. METHODS: Cases were identified in the data registry for Norwegian courts from 2004 to 2015. Documentation was obtained from relevant health institutions. The medical co-authors first made independent evaluations of the documentation for each child, followed by a consensus evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 17 children (11 boys) were identified, all diagnosed as AHT by court appointed experts, 15 were infants (mean age 2.6 months). A high proportion (41.2%) was born to immigrant parents and 31.3% were premature. The medical findings could be explained by alternative diagnoses in 16 of the 17 children; 8 boys (7 infants - mean age 2.9 months) had clinical and radiological characteristics compatible with external hydrocephalus complicated by chronic subdural haematoma. Six children (five infants with mean age 2.1 months) had a female preponderance and findings compatible with hypoxic ischaemic insults. CONCLUSION: The medical condition in most children had not necessarily been caused by shaking or direct impact, as was originally concluded by the court experts. Correction in: Acta Paediatrica, Vol. 111, Issue 4, pages 798-799DOI: 10.1111/apa.16268

Dette er en flerfaglig gjennomgang av samtlige norske straffesaker funnet på Lovdata fra 2004 fram til 2015 om «filleristing». Hver sak er gjennomgått av forfatterne; to jurister og tre medisinske eksperter på hodeskader hos barn. Materialet har bestått av straffesaksdokumentene, inkludert sakkyndige rapporter og aktuelle pasientjournaler med billeddiagnostikk av de samme barna. Rettssakene presenteres ut fra dommene, og i de aktuelle sakene er rettens vurderinger i mange saker knyttet opp mot de rettssakkyndiges vurderinger. Parallelt har de medisinske forfatterne etterprøvd hvorvidt de sakkyndiges vurderinger står seg ut fra dagens kunnskap om slike skadebilder. Særlig vekt er lagt på muligheten for at skadebildet ikke er påført ved foreldres eller andres voldsbruk, men av medisinske tilstander hos barnet selv. Det kan synes som om det er få fellende straffedommer som utelukkende er basert på sakkyndighetsvurderinger vedrørende filleristing. I flere andre saker synes det å foreligge tvil når det gjelder skadeårsak og skadepåføring. I tillegg presenteres enkelte barnevernssaker med vekt på beviskravet ved filleristing sammenliknet med straffesakene, men her uten å ha foretatt nye medisinske vurderinger. acceptedVersion

Barns med- og selvbestemmelsesrett har vært tema flere ganger i FAB, ofte rettet inn mot helsespørsmål. På dette området foreligger nå viktige lovendringsforslag som skal presenteres og vurderes. Samtidig gis en oppdatert oversikt over hvordan aldersgrenser kommer til uttrykk i ulike lover, og bakgrunnen for vedtatte regelendringer.

On July 22, 2011, there were two murderous attacks in Norway. Both assaults - the bombing of governmental buildings in Oslo City center and the lethal shooting down of young members of the Labour Party on an island - were planned and accomplished by a lone perpetrator. These episodes give rise to several interesting questions. What happened really, and how could it happen? Was the perpetrator sane or insane? What was the ideological background for the attacks? It is unnecessary to discuss in any detail whether or not these acts should be categorized as terrorism. However, there is good reason to consider what these terror attacks imply for Norwegian society at large. What significance did the attacks have for Norwegian democracy, and did they have any impact on the 2013 parliamentary elections? What will be the future for the offender, both in the short term and in years to come? What will happen to the Norwegian insanity defense? These questions are addressed in this article.