Between self- and external interpretation: the mutual relationship between socio-cultural and ethical aspects of advance directives

Definition of the problem The value which is attached to advance directives by the ethico-legal discourse could be contrasted with the unreadiness of the public to hold such documents. This raises the ethical question whether there are any crucial arguments in favour of composing advance directives. Arguments and Conclusion Of special relevance are issues such as a good life, which focus on desirability and wisdom of such a decision. One could highlight the positive meaning of such documents as instruments of self-interpretation and life-planning by referring to a concept of identity, extended with a sociocultural perspective. But this socio-cultural dimension sensitizes also to new ethical problems, which are induced by interpretation work done by third parties and the critical role of proxies. This identifies an important deficit in recent socio-empirical and in ethical research concerning the problems of interpretation, deliberation and responsibility of proxies.