Patients forcibly admitted to psychiatric wards in Denmark are now facing significantly longer delays in the processing of their complaints about being deprived of their liberty. The waiting time has increased to 246 days, exceeding eight months, according to a report from Minister of Health Sophie Løhde to the Danish Parliament’s health committee.

This substantial increase in waiting times for case review by the Psychiatric Patient Complaints Board raises concerns about potential violations of the Danish constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. These legal frameworks mandate a swift review of administrative deprivations of liberty.

The delay represents a significant increase from previous processing times, which were typically less than a week. The Psychiatric Patient Complaints Board underwent reorganization and centralization starting in 2018, including relocation from Viborg to Aarhus.

Lawyer Tobias Stadarfeld Jensen asserts that the extended waiting times effectively deny patients their constitutionally guaranteed rights. He emphasizes that the European Court of Human Rights generally allows only a few weeks for a judge to rule on administrative deprivations of liberty. “In my best assessment, this is a systematic violation of the European Convention on Human Rights,” Stadarfeld Jensen stated.

The Danish Patient Complaints Authority attributes the delays to a shortage of medical personnel and inadequate funding.

Minister of Health Sophie Løhde acknowledges the situation as unsatisfactory and stated that funds have been allocated to free up doctors to reduce waiting times.

The ministry disputes that Denmark is in violation of international obligations.