A psychiatrist in Turku continued to work at Mehiläinen in violation of a ban from the Finnish authorities, raising concerns about patient care and safety.
In Turku, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist was found to be practicing at Mehiläinen despite being banned by the Finnish National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira). This ban stemmed from noted deficiencies in his work that were first identified in 2017, including issues in patient records and the prescribing of potentially misuseable medications. Initially, the psychiatrist's performance was considered adequate, and his supervisor praised his contributions until 2024, but recent developments indicated a significant decline in his performance.
As Yle Uutiset investigated, it became apparent that after consistent monitoring, the psychiatrist's situation had worsened, although the exact reasons for this decline were not clear from the supervisory reports. Importantly, there was no known criminal history related to him, but other documentation suggested that his personal circumstances may have been stressful and possibly contributed to his deteriorating professional conduct. This raises serious questions about the oversight of psychiatric services in Finland and the criteria used to evaluate the fitness of medical professionals to practice.
This situation not only affects the psychiatrist’s patients and their safety but also highlights potential gaps in the regulatory system that allowed this scenario to unfold. The disappearance of open appointment slots when contacted by Yle indicates a possible attempt to conceal ongoing issues, further complicating trust in the healthcare oversight and the protections afforded to patients in Finland. This incident may prompt calls for stricter enforcement of regulations governing healthcare providers' qualifications and monitoring.
