expert's opinion and all available medical documentation relevant for the implementation
of this security measure. Patients must be provided with treatment in accordance with a
treatment plan adopted by a multidisciplinary team within seven days of admission to the
forensic psychiatry unit, on the basis of an appropriate individual treatment plan and an
individual protection plan. Patients are to be encouraged to participate in the preparation
and implementation of the individual treatment plan. In their work, the multidisciplinary
team must always take into account the patient's opinion and wishes, when they do not
conflict with their medical interests and the individual care plan. The multidisciplinary
team must regularly monitor the care plan and shall check its adequacy at least once a
month.
Currently there is only one such facility in Slovenia - Forensic Psychiatry Unit of the
University Clinical Centre Maribor (Enota za forenzično psihiatrijo UKC Maribor). All
persons subjected to the security measure of compulsory psychiatric treatment and
confinement and those detained during the proceedings for the application of the security
measure are placed in this facility. The Forensic Psychiatry Unit was established in 2011,
after years of recommendations from professionals that such a facility is needed.
As an interviewed psychiatrist explained, the Forensic Psychiatry Unit implements
psychiatric care, medication, occupational therapies and physiotherapy, if the court
orders it.108 The treatment itself is not fundamentally different from other psychiatric
wards, except for the security elements, such as the presence of the judicial police
officers. The interviewee also pointed out to the cases, where the unit also implements
the pre-trial detention during the proceedings for the application of the security measure.
During this time, the person has the status of a (pre-trial) detainee and this regime can be
prolonged for several months if the person or the state prosecution objects to the court
decision ordering the security measure. As a result, such detainee does not have access
to all the rehabilitation procedures, including exits, apart from the legally prescribed
minimum daily walks. In some cases, where the patient has already reached a remission
of psychosis, the implementation of rehabilitation activities should take place as soon as
possible, it would therefore be beneficial if appeal procedures in such cases were
prioritised by the courts.
108
Interview with a psychiatrist I.
37
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