Legal Rules on Palliative Care Under German Law

Abstract

During the last few years, palliative care has gained significant importance at the national, European, and international levels. In Germany, meanwhile, there is a broad consensus crossing all party lines that it is of utmost importance to develop needs-based palliative care. In order to achieve this goal, the legislator passed several laws regulating different aspects of palliative care and thus strengthened its legal basis, in particular, within the Fifth Book of the German Social Code. Other relevant policymaker followed by adopting corresponding substatutory rules and regulations.