[Debate over the patient's right to self-determination in Germany].

In Germany, advanced directives ought to be regulated by law. Yet, with respect to how such a law should be set up, opinions are drifting far apart: Referring to the patient's right to self-determination, one group claims the bindingness of advanced directives. Others, by referring to physician's fiduciary duty and the state's duty to protect life, seek a limitation of bindingness of advanced directives to situations of unfavourable prognosis.