title: [Patient advance directives in Austria--ethical discussions].
abstract: In Austria exists a broad political consensus to avoid euthanasia and assisted suicide but to convey palliative medicine and palliative care and to strengthen the autonomy and the rights of the patient. Therefore in 2006 the Austrian parliament passed the living will act which differs between obliging and noticeable living will documents. Concerning the limitation of the range of coverage the Austrian law defines a comparative liberal position.
authors.affiliation: Vorstand des Instituts für Systematische Theologie, Evangelisch-Theologische Fakultät, Universität Wien. ulrich.koertner@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Ulrich H J
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Körtner
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000941:ethics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics*