title: [Patient advance directives in Germany: not properly established and not present in the clinics].
abstract: The legal situation concerning advanced directives in Germany is unclear. Adressing the questions by the legislator is unlikely and High Court decisions give different answers to end-of-life questions such as wether the advanced directive ist legally binding even in patients who are not dying in the near future. Thinking optimistically, we might be able to save patients rights by implementing Advanced-Care-Planning into the German Health Care System. Thanks to hospital management moving towards more patient orientation we may also experience a cultural change in how patients' wishes are recognized and respected in the hospital setting. This development might probably promote patients rights more effectively than legislation.
authors.affiliation: Juristiche Fakultät der Universität Augsburg. sonja.rothaermel@jura.uni-augsburg.de
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rothärmel
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning