Living will and other patient documents in Germany
A patient in Germany may inspect their complete treatment record (Behandlungsakte) without delay, and since 6 February 2026 the first copy has been free (§ 630g(1) of the Civil Code, BGB). The request to inspect and copy the medical record also relies on Art. 15 GDPR and its one-month deadline; it goes to the practice or hospital, not to the insurer that provides the electronic patient file (ePA). Where treatment may have been faulty, the statutory health insurer should support the patient (§ 66 SGB V), and the expert and mediation boards of the medical chambers are free for patients; applying to one stops the limitation clock. The complaint about medical treatment can go to the practice, the chamber, its board or the insurer.
Statutory health insurance (a Krankenkasse) refunds costs only where the law allows (§ 13 SGB V). It decides on an application for cost cover, except for rehabilitation, within three weeks, or five with an expert opinion; if it misses the deadline without giving reasons in time, the benefit counts as approved, but that only entitles the patient to a refund for treatment they arrange themselves. A private health insurer must answer a pre-approval request for treatment expected to cost over €2,000 within four weeks, or two if it is urgent (§ 192(8) VVG). An objection to a health or care insurer's decision must be lodged within one month of notification, in writing or on record at the insurer (§ 84 SGG); a plain e-mail is not valid. Care benefits run from the month of application (§ 33 SGB XI), so a written application for a care level proves the date.
A living will (Patientenverfügung) sets out in writing which medical measures you accept or refuse if you can no longer decide yourself (§ 1827 BGB); it needs no notary and can be revoked at any time without formality. It must name specific situations and measures: the Federal Court of Justice holds that a general wish for no life-sustaining treatment is not enough. The Federal Ministry of Justice publishes free text blocks for it. Both holders of parental responsibility consent to a child's treatment, but in routine cases a doctor may rely on the parent present. With the parental authority for a child's treatment, parents authorise grandparents or a school-trip leader for a set period and keep parental responsibility. The documents are in German; each page describes its document in English.
The documents
8 forms available to fill out or download.
Request to inspect and copy the medical record (Germany)
The letter to a doctor's practice, hospital or therapist in Germany asking to inspect your treatment record (Behandlungsakte, formerly Patientenakte) and for a complete copy. It relies on § 630g of the German Civil Code (BGB) as in force since 6 February 2026 — the first copy is free, electronic ones included — and on Art. 15 GDPR with its one-month deadline. You choose a copy, or inspection and a copy, and how it is delivered. In German. Not for the electronic patient file (ePA) kept through the health insurer.
Pre-approval request and claim to a private health insurer (Germany)
The letter to a German private health insurer (PKV) in two situations: before expensive treatment, as a pre-approval request under § 192(8) of the Insurance Contract Act (VVG) — where costs are expected to exceed €2,000 the insurer must answer with reasons within two weeks if the treatment is urgent, otherwise four, or the treatment is presumed necessary — or afterwards, as the covering letter to a claim with the invoices. With policy number, treatment, costs and IBAN; no diagnosis in the letter. In German.
Application for a care level (Germany)
The application to a German long-term care insurer (Pflegekasse) for care-insurance benefits and the assessment that sets a care level (Pflegegrad) — for yourself or, with a power of attorney or a carer's card from the court, for someone else. An informal application is enough, but only a written one proves the date from which benefits run (§ 33 of Book XI of the Social Code, SGB XI). It flags the shorter deadlines after a hospital stay or announced care leave, and adds a ready letter claiming €70 per week begun if the insurer misses its 25 working days. In German.
Application to the health insurer to cover or refund costs (Germany)
The application asking a German statutory health insurer (Krankenkasse) to pay for treatment, a medical aid or another service — before treatment, as a request for cost cover with the three-, five- or six-week decision deadline of § 13(3a) of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V), or afterwards, as a claim for reimbursement where the insurer missed the deadline, could not provide urgent care in time or wrongly refused it. In German, with no diagnosis in the letter: the enclosed prescription gives the medical reasons.
Complaint about medical treatment (Germany)
One letter for four routes after treatment in Germany you are unhappy with or suspect was faulty: a complaint to the practice or hospital itself, a professional-conduct complaint to the regional medical chamber (Landesärztekammer), an application to the chamber's expert or mediation board (Gutachterkommission or Schlichtungsstelle), and a request to the health insurer for support under § 66 of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V). With the facts, the route you choose and, if you wish, a release from medical confidentiality. In German, for every Land.
Objection to a decision of the health or care insurer (Germany)
The objection (Widerspruch) to a decision of your German statutory health or long-term care insurer (Krankenkasse or Pflegekasse) — for instance refusing treatment, a medical aid or rehabilitation, or setting too low a care level. With the decision's date, the reference, your reasons and a request to see the file, so you can add to the reasons once you have read the expert opinion. To print, sign and post: under § 84 of the Social Courts Act (SGG) a plain e-mail is not a valid objection. Deadline: one month. In German.
Parental authority for a child's care and medical treatment (Germany)
The authority parents in Germany give grandparents, a babysitter, a childminder or the leader of a school trip to look after their child for a set period, take the child to the doctor and consent to treatment — or that one parent gives the other in advance. Choose routine treatment and emergencies, emergencies only, or a named treatment. With the health insurer, health notes and a release from medical confidentiality. Parental responsibility stays with the parents. In German, under the German Civil Code (BGB); fill in, print and have both holders of parental responsibility sign.
Living will: advance decisions on medical treatment (Germany)
The German Federal Ministry of Justice offers free text modules for a living will (Patientenverfügung); this document is our own wording under § 1827 of the German Civil Code (BGB). You set out in which situations your decisions apply — the dying phase, terminal illness, severe brain damage, advanced dementia — and decide on each measure separately: life-sustaining treatment, pain relief, artificial nutrition and hydration, resuscitation, ventilation, dialysis, antibiotics, blood and organ donation. Situations and measures are named specifically, as the Federal Court of Justice requires. In German, signed by hand; no notary.