title: [Debate over the patient's right to self-determination in Germany].
abstract: In Germany, advanced directives ought to be regulated by law. Yet, with respect to how such a law should be set up, opinions are drifting far apart: Referring to the patient's right to self-determination, one group claims the bindingness of advanced directives. Others, by referring to physician's fiduciary duty and the state's duty to protect life, seek a limitation of bindingness of advanced directives to situations of unfavourable prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Akademie für Ethik in der Medizin e.V., Göttingen. simon@aem-online.de
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D028701:Patient Rights; D026684:Personal Autonomy