Slovenian Court Rules Psychiatrist's Dismissal Illegal

A Ljubljana labor court has ruled that the summary dismissal of prominent psychiatrist Andrej Kastelic from the University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana (UPKL) in June 2024 was unlawful. Kastelic, a well-known figure and former head of the drug addiction treatment center at UPKL, had his employment contract terminated with immediate effect.

If the court's decision is finalized, Kastelic would be entitled to receive all wages owed to him from the date of his dismissal and be reinstated to his previous position. The circumstances leading to his dismissal were notable, with reports indicating that his office door was sealed with a long chain shortly before his retirement, requiring a hole to be drilled through a side wall for its installation.

The ruling signifies a potential victory for Kastelic in his legal challenge against his former employer. The case highlights a contentious separation from a long-standing position within a major psychiatric institution.