A lawyer for the so-called "cave man" (long known as hulemannen in Oslo) told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Friday that his client was "relieved and very satisfied" by the court ruling in his favour.
"He has waited a long time, and can now finally decide over his own body," lawyer Nils Nordhus told NRK.
Foul smell
Nordhus' client studied physics at the University of Oslo when he was evicted from a student housing complex in the late 1970s. His lifestyle and complete disregard for personal hygiene has always made him smell extremely foul, and other people have a hard time being around him.
He moved into a cave near the tramway tracks running adjacent to the University of Oslo's campus at Blindern. He also spent several years living in a pile of garbage near the Blindern tram stop, and authorities pretty much let him be.
Now 54, and suffering from the effects of his chosen lifestyle, he needs medical care. He was admitted to a public nursing home in Oslo's St Hanshaugen district and staff there forced him to wash.
The 54-year-old adamantly objected to his forced washings and sued the city, which runs the nursing home. He won, with the court saying the city can't care for him against his will.
Nursing home officials maintain that he still poses a risk of infection for other residents and staff of the nursing home, and that sores on his limbs must be cleaned and treated.
Respect, up to a point
Sylvi Listhaug, the city official ultimately in charge of social services, said she respects nursing home residents' rights to make their own lifestyle decisions. "But there must be a limit when those decisions affect other people, like staff at the nursing home and other residents there," Listhaug said.
It remains unclear what will happen now. Nordhus is demanding that the city transfer him "to a more appropriate place," but he seemed at a loss to say where that might be.
