Zentrum für Medizinrecht

Research & Education

The Center for Medical Law has a wide range of research and teaching focuses, driven by its goal of advancing interdisciplinary research and teaching activities. Here, you will find all current projects.

The research of Medical Law Göttingen covers the entire field of medical and health law, as well as the law of biomedicine, including medical ethics, legal policy objectives, and European and international contexts. Key areas of research include civil and criminal medical law, medical professional law, patient autonomy in the doctor-patient relationship, as well as the issue of so-called euthanasia, legal questions surrounding reproductive medicine, abortion, and gene and biotechnology, transplantation and transfusion law, the law of statutory and private health insurance, the law of medical research and ethics committees, all aspects of pharmaceutical law, including clinical trials, medical device law, as well as pharmacy and health advertising law.



Prof. Dr. Reiner Anselm

  • DFG Research Group 1765: Protestantism in Ethical Debates in the Federal Republic of Germany 1949-1989 (Deputy Spokesperson), including the subprojects:
    • The side effects of modernization and the preservation of creation
    • The threat to life from nuclear energy
    • The threat to life from genetic engineering

    • Prof. Dr. Gunnar Duttge

    • Article: Pregnancy Counseling, State-Sponsored, in: Hallermann/Meckel/Droege/de Wall (eds.), Lexikon für Kirchen- und Religionsrecht (LKRR), Vol. 4, 2021
    • The right to know and not to know: Predictive Genetic Diagnosis and Non-diagnosis, in: Bauer/Hofheinz/Utikal (eds.), Ethical Challenges in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy, Springer Nature 2021, Chap. 6 (from p. 67)
    • Medical Confidentiality: A Fossil Out of Time? – Using Clinical Ethics Consultation as an Example, in: MedR 2021, 325
    • For a Proper Regulation of Unauthorized Medical Treatment, in: medstra 2021, 65 [Joint Project of the Criminal Policy Circle]
    • Over-treatment in Intensive Care: Recognizing, Naming, Avoiding. Position Paper of the Ethics Section of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) and the Ethics Section of the German Society for Internal Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGIIN), in: Medizinische Klinik – Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin 2021, 281, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00063-021-00794-47
    • The Current Legal Situation in Germany Regarding Assisted Suicide, in: Hakeri/Doğan (eds.), IV. Uluslararası Tıp Hukuku Kongresi Bildirileri Kitabı (Contributions to the IV International Medical Law Congress Istanbul), 2021, p. 763
    • Comment on BGH, Order of 26.05.2020 – 2 StR 434/19 – Indirect Euthanasia by a Caregiver, in: MedR 2021, 730 [together with Scientific Assistant Niklas Pfeifer]
    • Update in Medical Criminal Law – Decisions and Trends, in: AG Medical Law of the German Bar Association/Institute for Legal Issues in Medicine (eds.), Current Developments in Medical Criminal Law (11th Düsseldorf Medical Criminal Law Day), 2021, p. 13
    • Human Dignity and Autonomy in End-of-Life Medical Care, 2021/22 Deontological Foundation of Norms in Secular Modernity – Using Medical and Bio-legal Border Issues as an Example, in: Höffe/Kirste/Windhöfel (eds.), Memorial Volume for Robert Spaemann, 2021 [in preparation]
    • The Value of Human Life in Times of the Pandemic, in: Nothelle-Wildfeuer/Pawlik/Striet (eds.), Memorial Volume for Eberhard Schockenhoff, 2021 [in preparation]
    • Autonomy Protection Through Criminal Law Autonomy Limitation? – The Relevance of Criminal Law in the Context of (Assisted) Suicide, in: Uhle (ed.), Boundless Autonomy? Protecting Life at the End of Life as a Joint Task of Society, Church, and State (Essener Gespräche on State and Law, Vol. 56), 2021 [in preparation]
    • Criminal Law Uncertainties in the “Shaken Baby Syndrome” – Discussion of BGH, Judgment of 16.12.2020 – 2 StR 209/20 -, in: ZfL 2021 [in preparation]
    • Self-Determined Death Sentence Through Refusal of Vaccination?, in: medstra 6/2021 [in preparation]
    • Medical Indication in a Law-Free Zone? Insights and Perspectives of German Law, in: Duttge/Steuer/Tadaki (eds.), Human Dignity and Autonomy in End-of-Life Medical Care - A German-Japanese Comparison, 2022, p. 147

    • 06.10.2021: “Therapy Limitation in COVID-19 Patients…” – Lecture at the Intensive Care Congress in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
    • 13.11.2021: Lecture on "Dignity, Ethics, Legal Foundations" – at the Palliative Care for Children Conference in Rostock
    • 02.12.2021: “Do We Need Informed Consent for Intensive Therapy?” and Chair of “TED Session: The Special Case from a Medical-Legal-Ethical Perspective” at the DIVI Congress in Hamburg
    • 03.12.2021: Lecture “Ex Ante and Ex Post Prioritization: Advocates’ Language?” at the DIVI Congress in Hamburg
    • 11.01.2022: Lecture on "The Triage Problem: Lessons from Germany" at the invitation of the Catholic Association "Lumen Vitae" in Seoul, South Korea
    • 20.02.2022: Lecture on "Reproductive Medicine: Current Legal Issues and Debates in Germany" at the Private University of the Principality of Liechtenstein
    • 14.03.2022: Lecture on "The Triage Problem: Debate and Current Situation in Germany" at a conference on current medical law issues at Özyegin University Istanbul
    • 01.04.2022: Lecture on "Legal Implications of Over-Therapy" at the 65th Intensive Care Review Course in Augsburg
    • 20.04.2022: Lecture on "Legal Aspects of Medical Decisions at the End of Life" in the medical qualification program “Basic Course: Ethics Consultation in Healthcare”
    • 27.04.2022: Lecture on "Scope and Limits of Patient Wishes in Critical Decision Situations: The Legal Perspective" at the Symposium on the General Theme: “Implementing the Patient’s Will in Practice” at the University Hospital Greifswald
    • 28.04.2022: Lecture on "Prioritization Ex Ante Alone? The ‘Ex Post-Triage’ as a Special Case?" at the DIVI Webinar (Ethics Section of DIVI) on the General Theme: "Prioritizing Intensive Care Resources in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic"
    • 03.05.2022: Lecture on "Use of Artificial Intelligence and Specialist Standards" at the invitation of the Professional Association of German Dermatologists
    • 11.05.2022: Lecture on "Legal Aspects in Palliative Medicine" in the medical qualification program for obtaining the additional qualification "Palliative Medicine" Case Seminar: “Ethics, Law, and Grief,” organized by the Mildred Scheel Academy and the Palliative Medicine Clinic at UMG
    • 20.05.2022: Lecture on "Law and Clinical Medicine: Self-Determination of Incapacitated Patients" at the invitation of the German Judges Academy (Medical Criminal Law Conference)
    • 21.05.2022: Lecture on "Trusting Doctor-Patient Relationship Through Law?" at the 6th Freiburg Symposium on Basic Issues of Humanity in Medicine
    • 13.06.2022: Lecture on "Patient Autonomy: Scope and Limits of ‘Moralization’ from a (Criminal) Legal Perspective" at the invitation of the "Göttinger Rechtszeitschrift" (GRZ) on the General Theme: “My Will – Your Morality: Patient Autonomy from an Ethical and Legal Perspective”


    Prof. Dr. Hans-Michael Heinig

    • European Labor and Social Law, Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2nd edition 2021, 1439 pages (edited together with M. Schlachter). Included:
      • Social Law Coordination Rules: Funeral Benefits, p. 1093 f.
      • Social Law Coordination Rules: Benefits in Case of Disability, p. 1095-1105
      • Social Law Coordination Rules: Benefits in Early Retirement, p. 1197-1201
    • Why Constitution Matters – Constitutional Legal Science in Times of the COVID-19 Crisis, in: JZ 2020, pp. 861-872 (together with T. Kingreen et al.)
    • The Hour of the Legislature, in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, No. 245, October 21, 2020, p. 11 (together with C. Möllers)
    • Parliaments and the Pandemic, in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, No. 168, August 16, 2021, p. 6


    Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Volker Lipp

    • 2024
      • Commentary on International Private Law (EGBGB Art. 7, 9, Art. 15, Art. 24, ErwSÜAG) In: Münchener Kommentar zum BGB, edited by Franz Jürgen Säcker, Roland Rixecker, Hartmut Oetker, 9th edition, Volume 12, C.H. Beck: Munich 2024.
      • § 44 Advance Directive, Care Instructions, and Patient’s Will Together with Johan Schrader, in: Münchener Anwaltshandbuch Erbrecht, edited by Stephan Scherrer, 6th revised edition, C.H. Beck: Munich 2024.
      • Challenges Due to the Changeability of the Will to Die and the Will to Live - A Case Report from Specialized Palliative Care Together with Gesine Bense, Erika Schulte, David Zilles-Wegner, John Alexander Bell, Manuel Guhlich, Nils Brökers, Alfred Simon, Gerald Wulf, Friedmann Nauck, in: Zeitschrift für Palliativmedizin (Z Palliativmed) 2024, pp. 306-313.
      • Medical Treatment of Vulnerable Patients in the Context of New Guardianship Law Together with Hannah Thonicke, in: Zeitschrift für Palliativmedizin (Z Palliativmed) 2024, pp. 239-245.
      • Gesellschaft für Neonatologie und pädiatrische Intensivmedizin e.V. (GNPI) (Hrsg.) Medical Treatment of Vulnerable Patients in the Context of New Guardianship Law Together with Hannah Thonicke, in: Zeitschrift für Palliativmedizin (Z Palliativmed) 2024, pp. 239-245.
    • 2023
      • "Limits of Therapy and Futility": Children and Adolescents (Part 1) & Limits of Therapy and "Futility": End of Life, Incapacitated Patients and Maximum Therapy (Part 2) Together with Daniel Brauer, in: Journal für Medizin- und Gesundheitsrecht 2023, pp. 62-66 (Part 1), pp. 172-176 (Part 2).
      • The Right to Die and `Euthanasia` - Comparative Remarks on the Current Debate Together with Irena Rysänkovä and Sophie Schlüter, in: Armales Universitatis Scientiarum Budapestinensis de Rolando Eötvös Nominatae, Budapest 2023, pp. 131-147.
      • Provision and Use of Treatment Data for Research Purposes Statement of 03.03.2023, Central Ethics Committee at the German Medical Association (ZEKO).
      • Human and Machine – Challenges Due to Artificial Intelligence Statement of 20.03.2023, German Ethics Council (DER).
      • Ethical and Legal Issues in the Treatment of Incapacitated Persons: Coercion in Cases of Self-Endangerment Recommendation of 16.03.2023, German Medical Association (BÄK) – Committee for Ethical and Medical-Legal Fundamental Issues.
      • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie e.V. (DGN) und Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde e.V. (DGPPN) (Hrsg.)S3 Guidelines on Dementia, Version 4.0, 28.11.2023, available at: https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/038-013
    • 2022
      • Suicide – Responsibility, Prevention, and Voluntary Responsibility Statement of 22.09.2022, German Ethics Council (DER).
      • Vulnerability and Resilience in Crisis – Ethical Criteria for Decision-Making in a Pandemic Statement of 04.04.2022, German Ethics Council (DER).

    • 2022
      • Out-of-Hospital Ethics Consultation and Assisted Suicide 3rd Specialized Conference on Out-of-Hospital Ethics Consultation, Evangelische Akademie Frankfurt, 02.03.2022.
      • Suicide and Suicide Assistance – A Task (Only) for Legislators? Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church, Hildesheim, 20.05.2022.
      • The Judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court on § 217 StGB and Its Consequences Main Symposium of the German Society of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine and Neurology (DGPPN), Berlin, 21.06.2022.
      • Suicide and Autonomy King's College, London, United Kingdom, 23.09.2022.
      • Assisted Suicide and Palliative Care 15th Forum on Palliative Medicine, Berlin, 11./12.11.2022.
      • Debate on Assisted Suicide – Importance for Caregivers 15th Forum on Palliative Medicine, Berlin, 11./12.11.2022.
      • Assisted Suicide – Legal Perspective Congress of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine and Neurology (DGPPN), Berlin, 24.11.2022.
      • The Well-Being of the Patient – A Legal Perspective Presidents' Symposium of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine and Neurology (DGPPN), Berlin, 24.11.2022.
    • 2023
      • Assisted Suicide – Strengthening Suicide Prevention and Autonomy Institute for Civil Law, University of Innsbruck, Clinical Ethics Committee Innsbruck, Austria, 11.01.2023.
      • Reform of Guardianship Law 2023 – What Must Doctors Know? Online Event of the Regional Working Group for Guardianship Affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia, 15.02.2023.
      • Reform of Guardianship Law 2023 – What Does It Mean for Medical Care? Clinical Ethics Committee of University Medical Center Göttingen, 18.04.2023.
      • Forensic Questions, Therapy Limitation & Medical Assistance in Suicide from a Legal Perspective Palliative Medicine Training Courses of the State Medical Association of Lower Saxony, 22./23.05.2023.
      • Update on Guardianship Law – What Do the Reforms Mean for Medical Care? MRI Forum Clinical Ethics, Technical University Munich, 20.06.2023.
      • Suicide and Assisted Suicide – Between Autonomy and Prevention Legal Society Bremen e.V., 08.11.2023.
      • Advance Directives and More – Health Planning in the Context of Psychiatry "Advance Directives" Conference, State Disability Council NRW e.V., 24.11.2023.
    • 2024
      • Suicide - Responsibility, Prevention and Autonomy Challenges in Medical Law from the perspective of a globalised world Center for Medical Law at the Georg-August-University Göttingen and East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL), Online Conference, 22.01.2024.
      • Advance Directives & More – What to Consider When Patients Can No Longer Decide for Themselves? 1st Ethics Day at Schüchtermann Clinic, Bad Rothenfelde, 15.05.2024.
      • Suicide and End-of-Life Medication German-Hungarian Colloquium of the Faculty of Law at Georg-August-University Göttingen and Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, 30./31.05.2024.
      • Medico-Legal Aspects Symposium "Managing Distressing Symptoms and Proximity to Death in Pediatric Palliative Care" AG Children and Adolescents of the German Society for Palliative Medicine e.V. (DGP), Hannover, 07.06.2024.
      • Suicide Prevention and Assisted Suicide – Can They Be Reconciled? 163rd Bad Nauheimer Gespräch, Medical Association of Hesse, Frankfurt/Main, Online Lecture, 22.10.2024..
      • The Legal Situation After the Federal Constitutional Court's Decision Symposium "Medical Responsibility at the End of Life," Medical Association of Lower Saxony, Hannover, 29.11.2024.

    • Member (appointed in 2016, reappointed in 2020) and since 2018 Vice Chair of the German Ethics Council (re-elected in 2020).
    • Since 2015 – Member of the Ethics Committee of University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG).
    • Since 2010 – Member of the Central Ethics Committee at the German Medical Association (ZEKO), Board Member 2016-2019 and again since 2023.
    • 2007-2023 – Member of the Committee for Ethical and Medical-Legal Fundamental Issues at the German Medical Association.
    • 2016-2024 – Member of the German Ethics Council, since 2018 Vice Chair.


    Prof. Dr. med. Friedemann Nauck

    • Heiß K., Jansky M., Jaspers B., Marx G., Schade F., Nauck F., Banse C. Cooperation and Competition – A Survey of Outpatient Hospice Services on Collaboration with SAPV (Specialized Outpatient Palliative Care) 2022, Thieme Publishing.
    • Bausewein, C., Hodiamont, F., Berges, N., Ullrich, A., Gerlach, C., Oechsle, K., Pauli, B., Weber, J., Stiel, S., Schneider, N., Krumm, N., Rolke, R., Gebel, C., Jansky, M., Nauck, F., Wedding, U., van Oorschot, B., Roch, C., Werner, L., … PallPan Study Group. (2022). National Strategy for Palliative Care of Severely Ill and Dying People and Their Relatives During Pandemics (PallPan) in Germany – Study Protocol of a Mixed-Methods Project. BMC Palliative Care, 21(1), 10. DOI
    • Gebel, C., Kloppenburg, L., Jansky, M. K., Nauck, F., Schade, F., & Wedding, U. (2022). "Creativity and Rethinking Were Necessary." Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Specialized Outpatient Palliative Care (SAPV). A Nationwide Online Survey. Das Gesundheitswesen, a-1714-8336. DOI
    • Gebel C, Rothaug J, Kruschel I, Lehmann T, Jansky M, Nauck F, Freytag A, Bauer A, Krauss SH, Schneider W, Nageler C, Meißner W, Wedding U. (2022): Symptom Progression, Care Quality, and Satisfaction with Specialized Outpatient Palliative Care (SAPV) from the Patients' Perspective: A Nationwide Prospective Longitudinal Study. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes, 168, 40-47. DOI
    • Stanze H, Nauck F. (2022): Health Care Planning for the Final Phase of Life - An Advance Care Planning Concept in Germany. Ther Umsch 78(1), 3-8. DOI
    • Jöbges S, Seidlein AH, Barndt I, Buchardi H, Duttge G, Dutzmann J, Grautoff S, Gretenkort P, Hartog C, Knochel K, Michalsen A, Nauck F, Neitzke G, Salomon F, Stopfkuchen H, Rogge A, Janssens U. (2022): Dealing with Coercion in Intensive Care Medicine: Recommendations from the Ethics Section of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI) in collaboration with the Ethics Section of the German Society for Internal Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGIIN). Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed, 117(4), 255-263. DOI
    • Guhlich M, Maag TE, Dröge LH, El Shafie RA, Hille A, Donath S, Schirmer MA, Knaus O, Nauck F, Overbeck TR, Hinterthaner M, Körber W, Andreas S, Rittmeyer A, Leu M, Rieken S. (2022): Symptom Relief, Prognostic Factors, and Outcome in Patients Receiving Urgent Radiation Therapy for Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of 21 Years' Practice. Strahlenther Onkol (2022). DOI
    • Biersching T, Schweda A, Oechsle K, Nauck F, Rosenbruch J, Schuler U, Hense J, Neukirchen M, Weber M, Junghanss C, Kramer T, Ostgathe C, Thuss-Patience P, Van Oorschot B, Teufel M, Schuler M, Bausewein C, Tewes M; OUTREACH Study Group. (2022): The OUTREACH Study: Oncologists of German University Hospitals in Rotation on a Palliative Care Unit – Evaluation of Attitude and Competence in Palliative Care and Hospice. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol (2022). DOI
    • Marx G, Mallon T, Pohontsch NJ, Schade F, Dams J, Zimansky M, Asendorf T, Böttcher S, Mueller CA, Freitag M, Hummers E, van den Bussche H, Schäfer I, König HH, Stiel S, Schneider N, Nauck F, Friede T, Scherer M. (2022): Effectiveness of a Specialist Palliative Home Care Nurse-Patient Consultation Followed by an Interprofessional Telephone Case Conference Compared with Usual Care Among Patients with Non-Oncological Palliative Care Needs: Protocol for the Multicenter KOPAL Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial. BMJ Open 2022 12(7):e059440. DOI
    • Ditscheid B, Krause M, Lehmann T, Stichling K, Jansky M, Nauck F, Wedding U, Schneider W, Marschall U, Meißner W, Freytag A, SAVOIR Study Group (2021): Palliative Care at the End of Life in Germany: Utilization and Regional Distribution. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 63(12), 1502-1510. DOI
    • Duttge G, Lipp V, Nauck F, Simon A (2021): Recommendations on Confidentiality and Data Protection in Clinical Ethics Consultation. MedR 39, 345 DOI Gebel C, Rothaug J, Kruschel I, Lehmann T, Jansky M, Nauck F, Freytag A, Bauer A, Krauss SH, Schneider W, Nageler C, Meißner W, Wedding U (2021): Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Care in Specialized Palliative Home Care: A Nationwide, Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Trial. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes, 1865-9217. DOI
    • Krause M, Ditscheid B, Lehmann T, Jansky M, Marschall U, Meißner W, Nauck F, Wedding U, Freytag A (for the SAVOIR Study Group) (2021): Effectiveness of Two Types of Palliative Home Care in Cancer and Non-Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Population-Based Study Using Claims Data. Palliative Medicine 35(6), 1158-1169. DOI
    • Jansky M, Schade F, Rieder N, Lohrmann D, Gebel C, Kloppenburg L, Wedding U, Simon ST, Bausewein C, Nauck F, & on behalf of the PallPan Study Group. (2021): "It Felt Like a Black Hole, Great Uncertainty, but We Have to Take Care of Our Patients" – Qualitative Findings on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Specialist Palliative Home Care. PLOS ONE 16(12), e0260767. DOI
    • Lehmann E, Hodiamont F, Landmesser M, Knobloch CS, Nauck F, Ostgathe C, Grüne B, Bausewein C (2021): Adaptation of the Australian Palliative Care Phase Concept to the German Palliative Care Context: A Mixed-Methods Approach Using Cognitive Interviews and Cross-Sectional Data. BMC Palliat Care 20, 128. DOI
    • Michalsen A, Neitzke G, Dutzmann J, Rogge A, Seidlein AH, Jöbges S, Burchardi H, Hartog C, Nauck F, Salomon F, Duttge G, Michels G, Knochel K, Meier S, Gretenkort, Janssens U (2021): Overuse in Intensive Care Medicine: Recognize, Name, Avoid. Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed (2021) DOI
    • Nauck F, Jaspers B (2021): Integration of Palliative Care into Acute Medicine. Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed 116, 276-276. DOI
    • Nauck F, Marckmann G, in der Schmitten J (2021): Treatment Planning in Advance – Importance for Intensive and Emergency Medicine. Intensiv 29 (9), 90-98. DOI
    • Nauck F, Simon A (2021): Assisted Suicide – Reflections after the Federal Constitutional Court Ruling. Forum DKG 36, 150 - 154. DOI
    • Simon A, Zang C, Nauck F (2021): Patient Data and Confidentiality in Clinical Ethics Consultation – Results of an Empirical Survey. MedR 39, 340-345. DOI
    • Ullrich A, Marx G, Bergelt C, Benze G, Zhang Y, Wowretzko F, Heine J, Dickel LM, Nauck F, Bokemeyer C, Oechsle K (2021): Supportive Care Needs and Service Use During Palliative Care in Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Prospective Longitudinal Study. Support Care Cancer 29(3), 1303-1315. DOI
    • Wojak KP, Ungermann GF, Ichsan I, Gomez-Molero E, Jung K, Weig M, Nauck F, Ziebolz D, Gräser Y, Nau R, Groß U, Alt-Epping B, Bader O (2021): Host Age and Denture Wearing Jointly Contribute to Oral Colonization with Intrinsically Azole-Resistant Yeasts in the Elderly. Microorganisms 2021, 9 (8), 1627. DOI
    • Nauck F, Jaspers B: Palliative Care Competence in Intensive Care Medicine. In: Salomon F (Ed.): Ethics in Intensive Care Medicine – Practical Guide, 4th edition; Medizinisch Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft. Berlin 2021. 308-320.
    • Nauck F: Pain. In: Bausewein C, Roller S, Voltz R (Eds.): Guideline for Palliative Care, 7th edition; Elsevier, Munich 2021. 133-174.
    • Nauck F, Ostgathe C, Radbruch L, Voltz R: Documentation. In: Bausewein C, Roller S, Voltz R (Eds.): Guideline for Palliative Care, 7th edition; Elsevier, Munich 2021. 547-551.
    • Banse C, Jansky M, Nauck F (2020): Cultural Barriers in Care? Onkologische Pflege, 10(3), 60–66. DOI 10.4486/j.op.2020.03.09
    • Banse C, Nauck F (2020): Spiritual Needs of Severely Ill People with Refugee Experience. Challenges for Palliative Care. Spiritual Care 9(4), 303-309. DOI 10.1515/spircare-2020-0004
    • Banse C, Owusu-Boakye S, Schade F, Jansky M, Marx G, Nauck F (2020): Migration Background as a Barrier to Palliative Care at the End of Life? Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2020 Nov 17. DOI 10.1055/a-1263-3437
    • Banse C, Rieder N, Schade F, Nauck F (2020): What Makes Successful Intercultural Opening in Hospice and Palliative Care? – A Guide to Factors for Better Intercultural Care. Hospiz-Dialog Nordrhein-Westfalen 83, 17-19.
    • Bodendiek E, v. Knoblauch z Hatzbach G, Lipp V, Nauck F, Simon A, Wedding U, Wenker M (2020): Ethical Case Discussion: Termination of Long-Term Ventilation. Dtsch Arztebl 117(41), A-1914 / B-1628.
    • Ditscheid B, Krause M, Lehmann T, Stichling K, Jansky M, Nauck F, Wedding U, Schneider W, Marschall U, Meißner W, Freytag A, SAVOIR Study Group (2020): Palliative Care at the End of Life in Germany: Utilization and Regional Distribution. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. DOI 10.1007/s00103-020-03240-6
    • Meier S, Nauck F (2020): Aspects of Palliative Care for Intensive Care Medicine. DIVI 11/2020, 116–123. DOI 10.3238/DIVI.2020.0116–0123
    • Ferner M, Nauck F, Laufenberg-Feldmann R (2020): Palliative Care in Intensive Care Units. Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther 55(1), 41-53. DOI 10.1055/a-0862-4790
    • Owusu Boakye S, Banse C, Jansky M, Nauck F: Hospice and Palliative Care for People with a Migration Background. In: Schenk L & Habermann M (Eds.): Migration and Aging. De Gruyter, Boston 2020, 133-141. ISBN: 978-3-11-056093-0
    • Nauck, F: In: Lohmann M, Rüffer JU (Eds.): When a Meeting Changes Everything – Doctors Share Their Stories. atp-Verlag, Cologne 2020, ISBN: 978-3-943064-20-9
    • Nauck F, Simon A: The Implementation of Notarial Advance Directives in Medical Practice. In: Lipp V, Münch J (Eds.): Notarial Advance Directives – Current Issues, Challenges, and Perspectives. ISBN: 978-2-95646-225-2

    • Patient-Relevant Impact of Advance Care Planning: Cluster-Randomized Intervention Study in Senior Care Facilities (BEVOR); Innovation Committee at the Joint Federal Committee (Innovationsfonds): Funding Number 01VSF18004
    • Development of a Patient-Centered Nationally Applicable Complexity and Case Mix Classification for Adult Palliative Patients Based on Needs and Resource Use (COMPANION); Innovation Committee at the Joint Federal Committee (Innovationsfonds) (01VSF18018)
    • Development and Evaluation of a Concept for Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Patients with Palliative Care Needs (KOPAL); Innovation Committee at the Joint Federal Committee (Innovationsfonds) (01VSF18024)
    • Seed Funding for the Establishment of an Academy for Training and Continuing Education in Clinical Palliative Medicine (Funded by the German Cancer Aid; Ongoing since 10/2013)

    • Member of the Center for Medical Law at the Georg-August-University Göttingen (Executive Management, Deputy)
    • Board Member of the Clinical Ethics Committee at University Medicine Göttingen
    • Chairman of the Göttingen Medical Association (2007 - 2021)
    • Spokesperson of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Advance Care Planning (DiV-BVP e.V.) (2017 - 2021), now renamed Advance Care Planning Germany (ACP Deutschland e.V.)
    • President of the German Society for Palliative Medicine (DGP) (2010 - 2014)
    • Member of the Taskforce "Refugees and Migrants" of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC)
    • Editor of the Journal of Palliative Medicine
    • Associate Editor of the Textbook of Palliative Medicine


    Prof. Dr. Eva Schumann

    • Parenthood after Fertility Treatment, in: Katharina Beier/Claudia Brügge/Petra Thorn/Claudia Wiesemann (Eds.), Assisted Reproduction with the Help of Third Parties, Medicine – Ethics – Psychology – Law, Berlin 2020, pp. 69-95
    • Surrogacy (Substitute Motherhood), in: Hans-Jürgen Rieger/Franz-Josef Dahm/Christian Katzenmeier/Martin H. Stellpflug/Ole Ziegler (Eds.), Heidelberg
    • Commentary – Medical Law, Hospital Law, Medical Law (HK-AKM), C. F. Müller, Heidelberg 2020 (83rd update October 2020), No. 3410, pp. 1-57
    • Parenthood after the Use of a Surrogate Mother, Gynäkologische Endokrinologie 2019, pp. 175-180 (re-published in: Der Gynäkologe 2020, pp. 338-344)
    • On the Criminal Liability of So-called Embryo Donation, Commentary on LG Augsburg (Judgment of 13.12.2018 – 16 Ns 202 Js 143548/14), FamRZ 2019, pp. 1378 f.
    • Motherhood and the Law, Göttinger Juristische Schriften, Vol. 24, Universitätsverlag Göttingen, Göttingen 2019, p. 177 (co-authored with Theresa Richarz, Kirsten Scheiwe, and Harry Willekens)
    • Statement "Reproductive Medicine in Germany – For a Contemporary Legislation", National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Union of the German Academies of Sciences, 2019. Available online as Statement (PDF) and as Digital Dossier.
    • §§ 1600 IV, 1600a IV BGB: Paternity Contestation of a Child Conceived via Embryo Donation, Commentary on OLG Saarbrücken (Judgment of 11.12.2017 – 6 UF 110/17), FamRZ 2018, pp. 835 f.

    • May 24, 2019: Parenthood after Fertility Treatment – 4th Göttingen Symposium on Medical Law “Between the Desire for Children and the Well-being of the Child – Legal and Ethical Challenges in Fertility Medicine”
    • July 4, 2018: Parenthood with the Help of Third Parties – Family Law Consequences of Fertility Medicine – Lecture at the Law Society of Göttingen
    • June 8, 2018: What “Rights” Do “Parents” of Cryopreserved Embryos Have? – Conference of the Legal Association for Life Rights in cooperation with the Catholic Academy Berlin “The Fate of Cryopreserved Embryos” in Berlin
    • November 3, 2017: Legal Challenges of New Family Forms – International Conference "Family Formation with the Help of Third Parties – Challenges, Solutions, Family Realities" on November 3-4, 2017 in Göttingen
    • March 24, 2017: Children's Rights and Parental Responsibility – 2nd Expert Conference of the Project Group "Incapacity as a Challenge for Justice Ethics" of the Scientific Society for Theology on March 24-25, 2017 in Münster

    • Member of the “Initiative Niedersachsen Ethics Council” (since 2020)
    • Collaborative Project “Power and Powerlessness of Motherhood. The Gendered Regulation of Parenthood in Law, its Legitimization and Critique from a Gender-Theoretical Perspective” (together with Kirsten Scheiwe, Ilona Ostner, Friederike Wapler, Harry Willekens; Funding period: 01/2017-12/2020)
    • Subproject 1 (Schumann): “Motherhood in the Age of Reproductive Medicine: Egg Donation, Embryo Adoption, and Surrogacy”, International Conference
    • "Motherhood and the Law" from September 13-15, 2018 in Hildesheim
    • Member of the Working Group “Key Points for a Reproductive Medicine Law” of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (2017-2019)
    • Member of the Working Group “Parentage Law” of the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (2015-2017): Final Report 2017, p. 133


    Prof. Dr. phil. Alfred Simon

    • Koenig JFL, Asendorf T, Simon A, Bleckmann A, Truemper L, Wulf G, Overbeck TR (2022) “SpezPat” – Common Advance Directives vs. Disease-Centered Advance Directives: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study on the Impact on Physicians’ Understanding of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients’ End-of-Life Decisions. BMC Palliative Care 21, 167.
    • Salzmann L, Alt-Epping B, Simon A (2022) Palliative Sedation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Results of a Nationwide Survey Among Neurologists and Palliative Care Practitioners in Germany. BMC Neurol 22.
    • Beier K, Simon A, Schön MP (2022) Prioritization of Employees in a Maximum Care Medical Institution for COVID-19 Vaccination: Challenges and Solutions. Ethik Med (online first).
    • Simon A (2021) Beneficent Coercion? Thoughts on Ethically Responsible Handling of Coercive Treatments in Medicine. Wege zum Menschen 73(6): 506-514
    • Richter LZ, Emons G, Simon A (2021) Pregnancy Conflict Counseling for Women with Migration Backgrounds: Experiences and Challenges from the Perspective of Pregnancy Conflict Counselors. 62(11): 785-789
    • Simon A, Meyer F (2021) What Must (Visceral) Surgeons Know About Aspects of Autonomous Decision-Making Regarding Self-Determination, Living Wills, and Suicide. Chirurgie (online first).
    • Ilse B, Alt-Epping B, Günther A, Liman J, Simon A (2021) Clinical Ethics Consultation in Neurology – A Case Series. BMC Neurol 21 (online first).
    • Nauck F, Simon A (2021) Assisted Suicide – Reflections After the Federal Constitutional Court’s Ruling. Forum 36(2):150-154.
    • Simon A (2020) Self-Determined Until the End?! The Current Federal Constitutional Court Ruling in the Context of the Public Debate on the Limits of Euthanasia. Wege zum Menschen 72: 475-486
    • Schicktanz S, Simon A, Raphael S, Ahlert M (2020) The Ethical Debate Over Child Priority in Post-Mortem Organ Allocation: A Scoping Review and Practical-Ethical Outlook. Transplantation Medicine.

    • Simon A (2022) Assisted Suicide: A Medical Task? In: Einsele H, Hochhaus A, de Wit M, Schulz C-O (Eds.) Physician-Assisted Suicide – Dealing with Requests from Cancer Patients. Contributions to Shaping a Challenging Practice. Health Policy Series of the DGHO, Vol. 20. Racken, Berlin, 39-48
    • Neitzke G, Simon A (2022) Clinical Ethics Consultation in Germany: History, Current Status, and Models of Training. In: Wasson K, Kuczewski M (Eds.) Thorny Issues in Clinical Ethics Consultation. Philosophy and Medicine, Vol. 143. Springer, Cham.
    • Simon A (2022) Patient Autonomy and Informed Consent. In: Marckmann G (Ed.) Practical Guide to Ethics in Medicine, 2nd updated and expanded edition. MWV: Berlin, 71-78
    • Simon A (2021) Much Achieved, But Still Much to Do. On the Development of Ethics Consultation in Healthcare. In: Frewer A, Franzò K, Langmann E (Eds.)
    • The Future of Medicine and Healthcare: Predictions – Visions – Utopias, Yearbook Ethics in Clinics. Königshausen and Neumann, Würzburg, 293-298
    • Simon A (2021) The Ethics Consultant as an Ethics Scout – How Ethics Consultation Can Contribute to Responsible Action in Healthcare Institutions. In: Kipke R et al. (Eds.) Thinking Together: Festschrift for Ralf Stoecker. Springer, Heidelberg, 421-432
    • Simon A (2020) Ethical Issues Concerning Patient Autonomy in Clinical Practice. In: Kühler M, Mitrović V (Eds.) Theories of the Self and Autonomy in Medical Ethics. Springer, Cham, 123-135
    • Nauck F, Simon A (2020) The Implementation of Notarial Advance Directives in Medical Practice. In: Lipp V, Münch J (Eds.) Notarial Advance Directives – Current Problems, Challenges, and Perspectives. Deutscher Notarverlag, Bonn, 49-61
    • Simon A (2020) Ethics Consultation in Healthcare. In: Riedel A, Lehmeyer S (Eds.) Ethics in Healthcare. Springer Reference Nursing – Therapy – Health. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 1-10


    Prof. Dr. Andreas Spickhoff

    • Medizinrecht (Medical Law), Beck's Short Commentaries, 3rd edition, 2018, Munich, C.H. Beck



  • Information about the focus area 8 Medical Law can be found on the faculty's website or here..


    • Volume 1 "Perspektiven des Medizinrechts im 21. Jahrhundert" Duttge, Gunnar (Hrsg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2007, ISBN 978-3-940344-08-3
    • Volume 2 "Ärztliche Behandlung am Lebensende" Duttge, Gunnar (Hrsg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2008, ISBN 978-3-940344-29-8
    • Volume 3 "Umwege zum eigenen Kind - Ethische und rechtliche Herausforderungen an die Reproduktionsmedizin 30 Jahre nach Louise Brown" Bockenheimer-Lucius, Gisela, Petra Thorn, Christiane Wendehorst (Hrsg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2008, ISBN 978-3-940344-46-5
    • Volume 4 "Verantwortungsbewusste Konfliktlösungen bei embryopathischem Befund" Schumann, Eva (Hrsg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2008, ISBN 3-978-3-940344-47-2
    • Volume 5 "Stellvertretung in Gesundheitsangelegenheiten - Modell eines dreigliedrigen Vertretungssystems" Diekmann, Andrea Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2009 ISBN 978-3-940344-78-6
    • Volume 6 "Gute Karten für die Zukunft? Die Einführung der elektronischen Gesundheitskarte" Duttge, Gunnar / Dochow, Carsten (Hrsg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2009 ISBN 978-3-940344-71-7
    • Volume 7 "Recht am Krankenbett - Zur Kommerzialisierung des Gesundheitssystems" Duttge, Gunnar / Dochow, Carsten / Waschkewitz, Marc-Alexander / Weber, Alexandra Kristina (Hrsg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2009 ISBN 978-3-941875-27-2
    • Volume 8 "Heterologe Insemination - Aktuelle Lage und Reformbedarf aus interdisziplinärer Perspektive" Duttge, Gunnar / Engel, Wolfgang / Lipp, Volker / Zoll, Barbara (Hg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2010 ISBN 978-3-941875-30-2
    • Volume 9 "Vertretung handlungsunfähiger volljähriger Patienten durch Angehörige" Burchardt, Monika Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2010 ISBN 978-3-941875-59-3
    • Volume 10 "Sexuelle Identität und gesellschaftliche Norm" Duttge, Gunnar / Engel, Wolfgang / Zoll, Barbara (Hg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2010 ISBN 978-3-941875-72-2
    • Volume 11 "Das Gendiagnostikgesetz im Spannungsfeld von Humangenetik und Recht" Duttge, Gunnar / Engel, Wolfgang / Zoll, Barbara (Hg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2011 ISBN 978-3-86395-025-5
    • Volume 12 "Tissue Engineering - Rechtliche Grenzen und Voraussetzungen" Wernscheid, Verena Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2012 ISBN 978-3-86395-035-4
    • Volume 13 "Genetische Individualität im Recht" Duttge, Gunnar / Engel, Wolfgang / Zoll, Barbara (Hg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2012, ISBN 978-3-86395-099-6
    • Volume 14 "Das arztrechtliche System als Grenze der arbeitsteiligen Medizin" Ballhausen, Benedikt Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2013, ISBN 978-3-86395-096-5
    • Volume 15 "Gerecht sorgen - Verständigungsprozesse über den Einsatz knapper Ressourcen bei Patienten am Lebensende" Duttge, Gunnar / Zimmermann- Acklin, Markus (Hg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2013, ISBN 978-3-86395-116-0
    • Volume 16 "Palliativmedizin und Betäubungsmittelrecht - Möglichkeiten und Grenzen" Duttge, Gunnar / Nauck, Friedemann / Weber, Alexandra Kristina (Hg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2013, ISBN 978-3-86395-136-8
    • Volume 17 ""Behinderung" im Dialog zwischen Recht und Humangenetik" Duttge, Gunnar / Engel, Wolfgang /Zoll, Barbara (Hg.) Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-86395-150-4
    • Volume 18 "Klinische Prüfungen an Notfallpatienten" Wehage, Caterina Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-86395-177-1
    • Volume 19 "Der Behandlungsvertrag" Franzki, Dominik Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-86395-175-7
    • Volume 20 "Klinische Prüfungen mit Arzneimitteln in der Schwangerschaft" Knop, Sonja Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2015, ISBN 978-3-86395-233-4
    • Volume 21 "Das Verhältnis von Selbstbestimmungsaufklärung und therapeutischer Aufklärung" Holland, Dario Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2017, ISBN 978-3-86395-303-4
    • Volume 22 "Würde und Selbstbestimmung über den Tod hinaus" Duttge, Gunnar; Viebahn, Christoph Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2017, ISBN 978-3-86395-323-2
    • Volume 23 "Verantwortungsvoller Umgang mit Cannabis" Duttge, Gunnar; Holm-Hadulla, Rainer M.; Müller, Jürgen L.; Steuer, Melanie (Hrsg.) Universitätsverlag, Göttingen 2017 ISBN 978-3-86395-328-7
    • Volume 24 "Die rechtliche Zulässigkeit von Placebokontrollgruppen in Arzneimittelstudien" Friske, Franziska B. Universitätsverlag, Göttingen 2017 ISBN 978-3-86395-321-8
    • Volume 25 "Die Rücknahme der ärztlichen Approbation und ihre Auswirkungen auf den Behandlungsvertrag" Müller, Jann-Heinrich Universitätsverlag, Göttingen 2021 ISBN 978-3-86395-520-5
    • Volume 26 "Die unzulässige Substitution des chefärztlichen Behandlers und ihre Auswirkungen" Weise, Claas-Thorge Universitätsverlag, Göttingen 2022 ISBN 978-3-86395-511-3
      • The volumes can be ordered at the University press.


  • The close collaboration with the centers and departments of University Medicine Göttingen enables fruitful interdisciplinary research on various current issues at the complex intersection of medicine, ethics, and law. Furthermore, there is a cooperation with the Göttingen Academy for Ethics in Medicine and the Information and Documentation Center for Ethics in Medicine (IDEM), both of which are jointly linked through the online portal "Ethics and Law in Medicine and Biotechnology." (www.bioethik-und-biorecht.uni-goettingen.de).
  • Medical Law Göttingen has a wide range of contacts with foreign institutions and scholars, which it continues to develop purposefully. Visiting scholars from both Germany and abroad find excellent working conditions and a stimulating research environment here.
  • Among other things, Medical Law Göttingen is part of the "ENLIGHT Initiative." Within this framework, there is an active exchange on topics such as medical, bio, and health law. This engagement directly builds on previous international collaborations within the U4 network of the universities of Göttingen, Uppsala, Groningen, and Ghent. Recently, Prof. Dr. Gunnar Duttge contributed a lecture on "Discrimination of elderly people in the medical system/in medical treatment" at the ENLIGHT Winter School 2021 at the University of Tartu. This lecture provided an exciting insight into fundamental ethical issues within our healthcare system, especially in the context of an internationally oriented comparison. More information about this initiative can be foundhere.