Living Will (Patientenverfügung)

A living will (also referred to as advance directive, health care directive, health care decree or a physician`s directive) provides an individual with the ability to express his or her wishes regarding prolonging life in the case of incapacitation through medical treatments and devices. Upon the occurrence of such incapacitation, the custodian (Betreuer) or, if there is a durable power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht), the attorney-in-fact must examine whether such wishes correspond to the living and treatment conditions present at that time.