Germany

Overview

In February 2020 Germany's Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) struck down §217 of the Criminal Code, which had banned "commercially organized assisted suicide." The court ruled that the right to a self-determined death is protected under the Basic Law, and that individuals have the right to seek assistance in ending their life.

As of 2024–2025, Germany lacks a comprehensive regulatory statute governing how assisted suicide is accessed in practice. Several legislative proposals have been debated in the Bundestag without resolution. Access currently depends on individual physicians and organizations willing to assist, operating under medical professional guidelines.

Current Legal Situation

• Assisted suicide is not criminal, but there is no affirmative right to access prescribed medication for this purpose
• The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has resisted issuing lethal drug licenses, leading to court battles
• German courts have ordered BfArM in some cases to supply medication, but implementation remains contested
• Euthanasia (physician-administered) remains illegal
• The German Medical Association lifted its blanket professional prohibition on physician involvement in assisted suicide in 2021, leaving it to regional chambers

Practical Access

• Some Germans travel to Switzerland (Dignitas/Exit) for assisted dying
• A small number of physicians assist patients domestically, operating in legal grey areas
• Legislative reform is expected but had not passed as of mid-2025; check current sources for updates

Key Organizations & Resources

• Federal Constitutional Court ruling (2 BvR 2347/15) — bundesverfassungsgericht.de
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Humanes Sterben (DGHS)
• Sterbehilfe Deutschland
• German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer) — bundesaerztekammer.de

Legal Contacts

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Humanes Sterben (DGHS) — Germany's longest-established right-to-die organisation; provides advance-directive templates, legal information, and guidance on the post-2020 legal landscape. dghs.de
• Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesgesundheitsministerium) — Official government source for legislative updates; as of 2025 the Bundestag has not yet enacted a new law following the 2020 constitutional ruling, so the legal situation remains in flux. bundesgesundheitsministerium.de
• DIGNITATE e.V. — Organisation that has provided assisted suicide services in Germany since the 2020 Bundesverfassungsgericht ruling; operates under current case law pending new legislation.

Medical Contacts

• Bundesärztekammer (German Federal Medical Association) — Publishes physician ethics guidelines and position statements on assisted suicide; individual state Ärztekammern issue their own guidance. bundesaerztekammer.de
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Palliativmedizin (DGP) — The national palliative medicine society; provides a directory of specialist palliative care providers across Germany. dgpalliativmedizin.de
• Legal Uncertainty Notice — Germany's legal framework for assisted suicide remains unsettled as of 2025. Individuals considering assisted suicide in Germany should obtain current legal advice before proceeding.

Important: Contact details and eligibility requirements change. Always verify information directly with each organisation before taking any action.