Regulations get more important in the doctor-patient relationship. There are some federal acts regulating forms of self-determination. One of these very important acts is the, Patientenverfgungs- Gesetz" (PatVG), which regulates the conditions and effectiveness of living wills. A living will is a declaration of will with which a patient refuses certain medical treatment in case that he is no longer able to understand the situation, make a judgement, or to express himself. In contrast to the non-anticipatory rejection of treatment, the legislator demands in the case of anticipatory rejection the fulfilment of certain conditions. The patient also has the possibility of appointing a proxy decision-maker. A health care power-of-attorney is a power-of-attorney which becomes effective when the principal loses the required legal capacity to comprehend or judge or express himself in the matters which become subject of a proxy. The power-of-attorney can also include consent to medical treatment. If a patient is no longer able to comprehend and/ or able to make a judgement and has a proxy decision-maker (the confirmation of the registration of the validity of the health care power-of-attorney in the Austrian Central Register of Representatives has to be submitted), this proxy has to act according to the will of the prin-cipal (patient) and to allow or reject medical treatment. At least a new feature of the Law is the regulation concerning the possibility of representation by close relatives. The close relative can now give his or her consent to medical treatment to the extent that this usually does not lead to a serious or lasting detriment to the physical integrity or personality of the patient and the represented person lacks the required ability to comprehend and make a judgement. There are no limits of patient autonomy in denying medical treatment, excepting those treatments that are imposed by special legislation. On the other hand, health care professionals also have the right in some cases to refuse treatment.
