According to the new Directive on the execution of the Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG), the German Immigration Law, emergency patients in hospitals who are foreign nationals without papers must not be reported to the Immigration authorities (Auländerbehörde) by hospital staff or the social welfare office (Sozialämter).
The new Directive by the Federal Ministry of the Interior came into effect as of 31st of October 2009. It is an important step towards expanding the rights of illegal immigrants who before often were afraid to use their legal right to hospital treatment in case of emergency because of the danger of being reported to the immigration office and of the ensuing deportation.
It clearly states that such patient data is protected by privacy rights and falls under the confidentiality of medical communication between doctors and patients.