diff --git a/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.cpp b/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.cpp
index 1ed2168d9f..1564e61832 100644
--- a/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.cpp
+++ b/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.cpp
@@ -1,261 +1,269 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #include "mitkPluginActivator.h"
 #include "DicomEventHandler.h"
 #include <service/event/ctkEventConstants.h>
 #include <ctkDictionary.h>
 #include <mitkLogMacros.h>
 #include <mitkDataNode.h>
 #include <mitkIDataStorageService.h>
 #include <service/event/ctkEventAdmin.h>
 #include <ctkServiceReference.h>
 #include <mitkRenderingManager.h>
 #include <QVector>
 #include "mitkImage.h"
 #include <mitkContourModelSet.h>
 
 #include <mitkDICOMFileReaderSelector.h>
 #include <mitkDICOMDCMTKTagScanner.h>
 #include <mitkDICOMEnums.h>
 #include <mitkDICOMTagsOfInterestHelper.h>
 #include <mitkDICOMProperty.h>
 #include <mitkPropertyNameHelper.h>
 
 #include <mitkRTDoseReaderService.h>
 #include <mitkRTPlanReaderService.h>
 #include <mitkRTStructureSetReaderService.h>
 #include <mitkRTConstants.h>
 #include <mitkIsoDoseLevelCollections.h>
 #include <mitkIsoDoseLevelSetProperty.h>
 #include <mitkIsoDoseLevelVectorProperty.h>
 #include <mitkDoseImageVtkMapper2D.h>
 #include <mitkRTUIConstants.h>
 #include <mitkIsoLevelsGenerator.h>
 #include <mitkDoseNodeHelper.h>
 
 #include <vtkSmartPointer.h>
 #include <vtkMath.h>
 #include <mitkTransferFunction.h>
 #include <mitkTransferFunctionProperty.h>
 #include <mitkRenderingModeProperty.h>
 #include <mitkLocaleSwitch.h>
 #include <mitkIOUtil.h>
 
 #include <berryIPreferencesService.h>
 #include <berryIPreferences.h>
 #include <berryPlatform.h>
 
 DicomEventHandler::DicomEventHandler()
 {
 }
 
 DicomEventHandler::~DicomEventHandler()
 {
 }
 
 void DicomEventHandler::OnSignalAddSeriesToDataManager(const ctkEvent& ctkEvent)
 {
   QStringList listOfFilesForSeries;
   listOfFilesForSeries = ctkEvent.getProperty("FilesForSeries").toStringList();
 
   if (!listOfFilesForSeries.isEmpty())
   {
     //for rt data, if the modality tag isn't defined or is "CT" the image is handled like before
     if(ctkEvent.containsProperty("Modality") &&
        (ctkEvent.getProperty("Modality").toString().compare("RTDOSE",Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0 ||
         ctkEvent.getProperty("Modality").toString().compare("RTSTRUCT",Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0 ||
         ctkEvent.getProperty("Modality").toString().compare("RTPLAN", Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0))
     {
       QString modality = ctkEvent.getProperty("Modality").toString();
 
       if(modality.compare("RTDOSE",Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0)
       {
           auto doseReader = mitk::RTDoseReaderService();
-          doseReader.SetInput(listOfFilesForSeries.front().toStdString());
+          doseReader.SetInput(getUTF8Char(listOfFilesForSeries.front()));
           std::vector<itk::SmartPointer<mitk::BaseData> > readerOutput = doseReader.Read();
           if (!readerOutput.empty()){
             mitk::Image::Pointer doseImage = dynamic_cast<mitk::Image*>(readerOutput.at(0).GetPointer());
 
             mitk::DataNode::Pointer doseImageNode = mitk::DataNode::New();
             doseImageNode->SetData(doseImage);
             doseImageNode->SetName("RTDose");
 
             if (doseImage != nullptr)
             {
                 std::string sopUID;
                 if (mitk::GetBackwardsCompatibleDICOMProperty(0x0008, 0x0016, "dicomseriesreader.SOPClassUID", doseImage->GetPropertyList(), sopUID))
                 {
                   doseImageNode->SetName(sopUID);
                 };
 
                 berry::IPreferencesService* prefService = berry::Platform::GetPreferencesService();
                 berry::IPreferences::Pointer prefNode = prefService->GetSystemPreferences()->Node(mitk::RTUIConstants::ROOT_DOSE_VIS_PREFERENCE_NODE_ID.c_str());
 
                 if (prefNode.IsNull())
                 {
                     mitkThrow() << "Error in preference interface. Cannot find preset node under given name. Name: " << prefNode->ToString().toStdString();
                 }
 
                 //set some specific colorwash and isoline properties
                 bool showColorWashGlobal = prefNode->GetBool(mitk::RTUIConstants::GLOBAL_VISIBILITY_COLORWASH_ID.c_str(), true);
                 bool showIsolinesGlobal = prefNode->GetBool(mitk::RTUIConstants::GLOBAL_VISIBILITY_ISOLINES_ID.c_str(), true);
 
                 //Set reference dose property
                 double referenceDose = prefNode->GetDouble(mitk::RTUIConstants::REFERENCE_DOSE_ID.c_str(), mitk::RTUIConstants::DEFAULT_REFERENCE_DOSE_VALUE);
 
                 mitk::ConfigureNodeAsDoseNode(doseImageNode, mitk::GeneratIsoLevels_Virtuos(), referenceDose, showColorWashGlobal);
 
                 ctkServiceReference serviceReference = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getServiceReference<mitk::IDataStorageService>();
                 mitk::IDataStorageService* storageService = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getService<mitk::IDataStorageService>(serviceReference);
                 mitk::DataStorage* dataStorage = storageService->GetDefaultDataStorage().GetPointer()->GetDataStorage();
 
                 dataStorage->Add(doseImageNode);
 
                 mitk::RenderingManager::GetInstance()->InitializeViewsByBoundingObjects(dataStorage);
             }
         }//END DOSE
       }
       else if(modality.compare("RTSTRUCT",Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0)
       {
           auto structReader = mitk::RTStructureSetReaderService();
-          structReader.SetInput(listOfFilesForSeries.front().toStdString());
+          structReader.SetInput(getUTF8Char(listOfFilesForSeries.front()));
           std::vector<itk::SmartPointer<mitk::BaseData> > readerOutput = structReader.Read();
 
           if (readerOutput.empty()){
               MITK_ERROR << "No structure sets were created" << endl;
           }
           else {
               std::vector<mitk::DataNode::Pointer> modelVector;
 
               ctkServiceReference serviceReference = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getServiceReference<mitk::IDataStorageService>();
               mitk::IDataStorageService* storageService = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getService<mitk::IDataStorageService>(serviceReference);
               mitk::DataStorage* dataStorage = storageService->GetDefaultDataStorage().GetPointer()->GetDataStorage();
 
               for (const auto& aStruct : readerOutput){
                   mitk::ContourModelSet::Pointer countourModelSet = dynamic_cast<mitk::ContourModelSet*>(aStruct.GetPointer());
 
                   mitk::DataNode::Pointer structNode = mitk::DataNode::New();
                   structNode->SetData(countourModelSet);
                   structNode->SetProperty("name", aStruct->GetProperty("name"));
                   structNode->SetProperty("color", aStruct->GetProperty("contour.color"));
                   structNode->SetProperty("contour.color", aStruct->GetProperty("contour.color"));
                   structNode->SetProperty("includeInBoundingBox", mitk::BoolProperty::New(false));
                   structNode->SetVisibility(true, mitk::BaseRenderer::GetInstance(
                       mitk::BaseRenderer::GetRenderWindowByName("stdmulti.widget1")));
                   structNode->SetVisibility(false, mitk::BaseRenderer::GetInstance(
                       mitk::BaseRenderer::GetRenderWindowByName("stdmulti.widget2")));
                   structNode->SetVisibility(false, mitk::BaseRenderer::GetInstance(
                       mitk::BaseRenderer::GetRenderWindowByName("stdmulti.widget3")));
                   structNode->SetVisibility(true, mitk::BaseRenderer::GetInstance(
                       mitk::BaseRenderer::GetRenderWindowByName("stdmulti.widget4")));
 
                   dataStorage->Add(structNode);
               }
               mitk::RenderingManager::GetInstance()->InitializeViewsByBoundingObjects(dataStorage);
           }
       }
       else if (modality.compare("RTPLAN", Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0)
       {
           auto planReader = mitk::RTPlanReaderService();
-          planReader.SetInput(listOfFilesForSeries.front().toStdString());
+          planReader.SetInput(getUTF8Char(listOfFilesForSeries.front()));
           std::vector<itk::SmartPointer<mitk::BaseData> > readerOutput = planReader.Read();
           if (!readerOutput.empty()){
               //there is no image, only the properties are interesting
               mitk::Image::Pointer planDummyImage = dynamic_cast<mitk::Image*>(readerOutput.at(0).GetPointer());
 
               mitk::DataNode::Pointer planImageNode = mitk::DataNode::New();
               planImageNode->SetData(planDummyImage);
               planImageNode->SetName("RTPlan");
 
               ctkServiceReference serviceReference = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getServiceReference<mitk::IDataStorageService>();
               mitk::IDataStorageService* storageService = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getService<mitk::IDataStorageService>(serviceReference);
               mitk::DataStorage* dataStorage = storageService->GetDefaultDataStorage().GetPointer()->GetDataStorage();
 
               dataStorage->Add(planImageNode);
           }
       }
     }
     else
     {
       mitk::StringList seriesToLoad;
       QStringListIterator it(listOfFilesForSeries);
 
       while (it.hasNext())
       {
-        seriesToLoad.push_back(it.next().toStdString());
+		  seriesToLoad.push_back(getUTF8Char(it.next()));
       }
 
       //Get Reference for default data storage.
       ctkServiceReference serviceReference = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getServiceReference<mitk::IDataStorageService>();
       mitk::IDataStorageService* storageService = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getService<mitk::IDataStorageService>(serviceReference);
       mitk::DataStorage* dataStorage = storageService->GetDefaultDataStorage().GetPointer()->GetDataStorage();
 
       std::vector<mitk::BaseData::Pointer> baseDatas = mitk::IOUtil::Load(seriesToLoad.front());
       for (const auto &data : baseDatas)
       {
         mitk::DataNode::Pointer node = mitk::DataNode::New();
         node->SetData(data);
 
         std::string nodeName = "Unnamed Dicom";
 
         std::string studyUID = "";
         std::string seriesUID = "";
 
         data->GetPropertyList()->GetStringProperty("DICOM.0020.000D", studyUID);
         data->GetPropertyList()->GetStringProperty("DICOM.0020.000E", seriesUID);
 
         if (!studyUID.empty())
         {
           nodeName = studyUID;
         }
 
         if (!seriesUID.empty())
         {
           if (!studyUID.empty())
           {
             nodeName += "/";
           }
           nodeName += seriesUID;
         }
 
         dataStorage->Add(node);
       }
     }
   }
   else
   {
     MITK_INFO << "There are no files for the current series";
   }
 }
 
 void DicomEventHandler::OnSignalRemoveSeriesFromStorage(const ctkEvent& /*ctkEvent*/)
 {
 }
 
+const char* DicomEventHandler::getUTF8Char(const QString& string) {
+#ifdef Q_OS_WIN
+	return string.toLocal8Bit().constData();
+#elif Q_OS_MAC
+	return string.toUtf8().constData();
+#endif
+}
+
 void DicomEventHandler::SubscribeSlots()
 {
   ctkServiceReference ref = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getServiceReference<ctkEventAdmin>();
   if (ref)
   {
     ctkEventAdmin* eventAdmin = mitk::PluginActivator::getContext()->getService<ctkEventAdmin>(ref);
     ctkDictionary properties;
     properties[ctkEventConstants::EVENT_TOPIC] = "org/mitk/gui/qt/dicom/ADD";
     eventAdmin->subscribeSlot(this, SLOT(OnSignalAddSeriesToDataManager(ctkEvent)), properties);
     properties[ctkEventConstants::EVENT_TOPIC] = "org/mitk/gui/qt/dicom/DELETED";
     eventAdmin->subscribeSlot(this, SLOT(OnSignalRemoveSeriesFromStorage(ctkEvent)), properties);
   }
 }
diff --git a/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.h b/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.h
index 5620566c57..939ae20180 100644
--- a/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.h
+++ b/Plugins/org.mitk.gui.qt.dicom/src/internal/DicomEventHandler.h
@@ -1,65 +1,69 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #ifndef DicomEventHandler_h
 #define DicomEventHandler_h
 
 #include <QObject>
 #include <service/event/ctkEvent.h>
 
 /**
 * \brief DicomEventHandler is a class for handling dicom events between dicom plugin and datamanager.
 */
 class DicomEventHandler : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
 
     /**
     * \brief DicomEventHandler constructor.
     */
     DicomEventHandler();
 
     /**
     * \brief DicomEventHandler destructor.
     */
     virtual ~DicomEventHandler();
 
     /**
     * \brief Subscribes slots in this class.
     *
     * This function will subscribe OnSignalAddSeriesToDataManager and OnSignalRemoveSeriesFromStorage.
     * Doing this allows to react on ctkEvents with EVENT_TOPIC "org/mitk/gui/qt/dicom/ADD" and "org/mitk/gui/qt/dicom/DELETED".
     */
     void SubscribeSlots();
 
     public slots:
 
         /**
         * \brief Called when ctkEvent with EVENT_TOPIC "org/mitk/gui/qt/dicom/ADD" is thrown.
         *
         * If this slot catches an event it will add the dicom file provided by event properties.
         */
         void OnSignalAddSeriesToDataManager(const ctkEvent& ctkEvent);
 
         /**
         * \brief Called when ctkEvent with EVENT_TOPIC "org/mitk/gui/qt/dicom/DELETED" is thrown.
         *
         * \note Not yet implemented.
         */
         void OnSignalRemoveSeriesFromStorage(const ctkEvent& ctkEvent);
+
+private:
+	const char* getUTF8Char(const QString& string);
+
 };
 #endif // QmitkDicomEventHandlerBuilder_h
\ No newline at end of file