In its opinion from 2006, the National Ethics Council (now the German Ethics Council) focuses on problems of the current language use in relation to end-of-life care which is judged as “ambiguous and misleading”, as well as on questions concerning suicide. Two aspects are especially discussed: First, the ethical evaluation of suicide in terms of incurable diseases and second, the tasks and duties of physicians concerning suicide intervention, assisted suicide and the demand of killing on request. In its statement, the National Ethics council introduces different positions: some members argue that assisted suicide contradicts the physician’s professional duty and that it is difficult to determine whether a freely responsible and carefully deliberate decision underlies the patient’s desire to die, or whether it is a matter of a temporary psychological crisis or a depressive mental state. In contrast to this opinion, a second group argues that the physicians are obliged to “use their medical expertise for the benefit of the patients and accept their autonomy”. Accordingly, assisted suicide may be carried out in the case of an incurable disease. Furthermore, the evaluation of the decision-making ability of a patient belongs to the daily scope of physicians’ duties. A third position considers the physician’s decision for or against assisted suicide a highly personal matter of conscience which must be endorsed and shall not be punished according to the rules of professional conduct.