The German Society for Pain Medicine (DGS) sees a possible new legal regulation on physician-assisted suicide as a threat to the landmark ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court of 2020. A new regulation could again restrict the right to self-determined dying in essential points and de facto amount to a ban. This was announced by the DGS on February 2, 2026.

In 2020, the Federal Constitutional Court lifted the ban on assisted suicide (Section 217 of the German Criminal Code) and granted every person the right to self-determined dying – including the possibility of seeking help from third parties, as long as the decision is made freely, insightfully and without external pressure. The DGS considers this open regulation to be sufficient and sees no need for a new legal regulation.

The society criticizes efforts to set the hurdles for physician-assisted suicide so high that they become practically unattainable. Such tendencies emanate primarily from religious, psychiatric-medical or conservative positions and would undermine the ruling of the Constitutional Court.

In palliative care and in an ageing society with high demands on quality of life, more and more patients are expressing the desire for assisted suicide. Doctors have to check whether the wish is really free will. This is particularly complex in the case of mental illnesses such as depression. However, the Federal Constitutional Court has made it clear that the will of the individual is not subject to any evaluation according to general values, religious commandments or social models and may not be placed under general suspicion of a lack of freedom or reflection.

The DGS will deepen the topic at the German Pain and Palliative Days from 19 to 21 March 2026 in Frankfurt/Main. In a panel discussion on March 20 (2–3:30 p.m.), experts chaired by Dr. Carsten Brau and Dr. Michael Überall will discuss the legal, ethical and practical consequences for medical practice. The aim is to give doctors more confidence in their actions and to contribute to the formation of opinion in the professional world.

The German Pain and Palliative Days are expecting more than 2,000 experts to attend more than 90 sessions on topics such as prevention, diagnosis and therapy of chronic pain, cannabinoids, opioids, sleep medicine, psychology, palliative care, AI applications and health policy.

With 4,035 members and 121 pain centres, the DGS is the leading professional society for the care of chronic pain sufferers. It promotes interdisciplinary exchange, practice-oriented training and the further development of pain and palliative medicine.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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