Der Anaesthesist
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In more than 30 years of development of intensive care medicine (ICM), our specialty has acquired moral and ethical standpoints, although not without public pressure and discussions. Special commissions dealing, e.g., with brain death, terminal care, ethics of foregoing life-sustaining treatment in the critically ill, withholding or withdrawing mechanical ventilation, and other issues have been formed in a number of medical societies. International consensus conferences have helped to clarify some of the issues. ⋯ From 30 years experience in ICM, there are many more ethical questions and case reports without clear solutions. Care decisions for single patients in unacceptable situations should be made after medical evaluation by the intensivist with the medical team and, if possible, by the patient and/or his or her surrogate. Legislation and solutions cannot be expected for single patients, but ethics committees could be helpful in decision-making.