Citation

Weilert AK. Zeitschrift fur Medizinische Ethik 2015; 61(3): 242-256.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015)

DOI

10.14623/zfme.2015.3.242-256

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current political discussions concerning the legal regulation of assisted suicide have to be seen against the background of an ambiguous legal situation, and the realization that current regulations are not homogenous within Germany. From a constitutional point of view, there cannot be drawn any right to medical assisted dying. Rather, the State has to guarantee a minimum level of protection of vulnerable life. Therein the legislator is granted a wide margin of discretion. A prohibition of medical assisted suicide seems to be reasonable even though it may lead to moral dilemmas. Yet the legal system has options to provide for justice in individual cases without impairing the very substance of the right to life. © 2015 Schwabenverlag AG.

Language: de

Keywords

Euthanasia; human dignity; medical assisted suicide; protection of life; right to self-determination