Neurologist Ivan Radan, who is suspected of committing seven murders, will spend the next month in jail. The Ljubljana District Court senate rejected the appeal for the detention order, filed by Radan's attorney Milan Krstić. Radan is otherwise still at the University Medical Centre - UKC Ljubljana after injuring himself.

The medical association assessed the events at the neurology clinic as tragic and sad. The association further pointed to the need for setting up oversight and security mechanisms to prevent such acts from happening again. "It is difficult to understand that such acts, as the one Radan is suspected of committing, have been taking place for more than a year without being noticed. We condemn any action which is not meant to help the patients, especially those in critical condition," the association stressed.
The association assured that it would do all in its power and jurisdiction to prevent such acts from happening again. It wrote that it would encourage their colleagues and the managements of health centres to act responsibly and put in place adequate standards and mechanisms.

Cerar: A very dark stain
The case was also commented by PM Miro Cerar during his visit to Riga. According to the PM, if the accusations are justified they would "cast a very dark stain over our health system. All the doctors and other health sector employees would have to do something to slowly erase it".

The PM assesses that it is especially important for the medical association and health organizations to establish the facts on the ground and make decisions as soon as possible. Cerar added that his remarks are in line with the call of Health Minister, Milojka Kolar Celarc, to the management of UKC Ljubljana to resign.

Suffered for three hours before he died
A medical nurse spoke to TV Slovenija on Thursday. UKC Ljubljana refused to extend her employment contract after she prepared a dose of potassium following an order by doctor Radan. "It wasn't my own will to do it. I asked the doctor twice. I knew it wasn't O.K., but he confirmed what he said and told me to really do it," she explained.

The nurse also revealed other unacceptable practices and the neurology clinic. For example, one of the female doctors once ordered for a patient to be taken off the ventilator. "I watched as the patient's pressure started to rise after 15, 20 minutes. He then started breathing like a fish on dry land. I watched him suffer for three hours, and then he died," the eerie details are revealed by the nurse. She said she didn't dare contradict the doctors.

Bad relations and a lack of autonomy
The Union of Healthcare Workers stressed in a press release that the relations between different medical professions and the communication between doctors and other medical staff are unprofessional. The union writes that conflicts and mobbing are an everyday practice.

A. Č., Al. Ma.; translated by K. J.