[How do we ethically justify non-resusitation? Arguments within the social system on an ongoing problem in modern...

The question whether to resuscitate or not belongs to the most controversial issues of medical ethics. This paper wants to give an insight into the German way of discussion on this topic. First it gives an overview of the most important codifications concerning resuscitation. Then it treats the question who is to be involved in do-not-resuscitate-decisions. The central point of the paper is the question of futile treatment and the question of the normative structures which are present in German discussion.