Eingriff

Eingriff is a German noun meaning intervention or intrusion. It is related to the verb eingreifen, literally “to reach in.” The term is used across domains to denote actions by a person or body that affect a situation, especially when rights, autonomy, or normal operations are involved. In everyday language, Eingriff can refer to both medical procedures and broader interferences by authorities or others.

In medicine, a medical Eingriff denotes a procedure or intervention aimed at diagnosing, treating, or preventing disease. It ranges from simple examinations to major operations. A procedure typically requires informed consent, assessment of risks and benefits, and appropriate postoperative or follow-up care. The term is commonly used to distinguish between operative Eingriffe (surgical procedures) and non-operative or conservative interventions.

In legal and ethical contexts, Eingriff describes a restriction or intrusion into a person’s fundamental rights or private sphere carried out by public authorities or other actors. Such Eingriffe must be justified by law, pursue legitimate aims, and satisfy proportionality and necessity requirements. The notion is central in constitutional law, criminal procedure, and data protection, where the balance between intervention and rights is regularly scrutinized.

Other uses include environmental and social policy, where human interventions in ecosystems or cultural practices are referred to as Eingriffe. The broad sense of the term is contrasted with more field-specific terms, but it remains a general label for actions that reach into a situation or domain and alter its course.