The German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer) has dealt with questions concerning the relationship between advance health care directives and organ donor declarations in a working paper. In view of the growing importance of advance decision making in clinical routine, there is an increasing probability of such decisions coinciding with organ donor declarations. This may lead to conflicts if a living will, which prohibits measures of intensive care medicine, contradicts an organ transplantation that requires just those measures.

In the working paper possible case constellations are discussed and orientation is offered concerning the ethical and legal assessment of conflict situations. To avoid conflicts, the German Medical Association recommends bringing the wish for limitations on life-supporting therapy in agreement with the willingness to donate organs in the advance healthcare directive form. The working paper includes corresponding boilerplates.