Advance Directives under Germanys Civil Code in a Comparative Context

Aging populations and medical advancements are leading to significant legal challenges in biolaw, particularly concerning life and death decisions made by patients and physicians. With many patients unable to make these decisions, Germany's 2009 regulations on advance directives, or living wills, have become crucial. Although often linked to euthanasia, their application extends beyond that scope. Notably, active euthanasia remains illegal under German criminal law, highlighting the complexities surrounding end-of-life choices in contemporary society.