A growing debate is engulfing Germany’s healthcare system, ignited by CDU health policy expert Hendrik Streeck, who is advocating for a fundamental shift in priorities regarding the care of elderly and highly vulnerable patients. Streeck’s recent commentary, published in the “Rheinische Post” criticizes the current system’s tendency towards aggressive, potentially futile medical interventions, arguing it prioritizes technological advancement and financial incentives over patient dignity and genuine well-being.
The core of Streeck’s critique revolves around a prevailing assumption within the medical community: that life extension should always be the primary objective. He questions this dogma, referencing the emotional toll experienced by those witnessing elderly individuals struggling for survival in intensive care settings, arguing that “not everything medically possible is also humanly justifiable”. He highlights a deeply concerning trend he terms “operating people to death” an occurrence he attributes not to malicious intent, but to systemic flaws that misalign incentives. These incentives, he explains, often lead to the performance of technically impressive, legally secure and financially lucrative procedures- such as minimally invasive heart valve replacements or multiple joint replacements- without adequate consideration of whether they genuinely improve the patient’s quality of life or simply prolong suffering.
Streeck’s proposition isn’t about austerity measures, he emphasizes, but rather about safeguarding patients from unnecessary hardship. He boldly suggests that “sometimes, greater care lies in “not” doing everything one can”. This necessitates a profound introspection within the medical profession itself, stressing the importance of self-regulation and involving broader societal dialogue through bodies like the national ethics council.
Beyond the immediate issue of invasive procedures, Streeck calls for a reimagining of how healthcare resources are allocated. The focus, he believes, must shift from rewarding illness to fostering overall health and well-being. Crucially, he urges greater support for nurses, general practitioners and family caregivers, environments that enable treatment at home-a preferable alternative to often impersonal hospital settings. The prioritization should be on structures that uphold human dignity, rather than interventions that primarily generate revenue. The debate, Streeck insists, reflects a critical juncture for Germany’s healthcare system and its ability to provide compassionate and ethically sound care for an aging population.