scheler had a lifelong interest in pharmacology since his early work at the max-planck-institut für experimentelle medizin. after the invention of hemofiltration, and the early, tragic death of peter kramer, he increasingly focussed on his work at the committee for drug safety in germany arzneimittelkommission. he belonged to this committee since 1975, from 1981 until 1993 he became its president. during this time a number of political decisions were strongly contested, such as the introduction of a 'positive list' of drugs which could only be reimbursed by public health care insurance, and which scheler successfully opposed. he was also involved in the foundation of an institute for drug law at the university of göttingen, which has by now been further developed to a leading institution of medicine law. scheler received an honorary doctorate of the law department of the university of göttingen in recognition of his contributions to this institute in 1995.