The invention relates to a lateral positioning device for the variable lateral positioning of a recumbent person (6), having the following features: at least one actuator (4, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96) acting on a resting surface (5) for the person (6), wherein, by means of the actuator (4, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96), the angle (αL, αR) between the transverse axis (Q) of the resting surface (5) and the horizontal (H) can be varied, at least one sensor (7, 9) having an output signal which represents the respective angle (αL, αR) between the transverse axis (Q) and the horizontal (H), and at least one electronic control device (11) which is connected to the sensor (7, 9) and the actuator (4, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97) and is equipped i) to determine an actual inclined position from the output signal of the sensor (7, 9), ii) to adjust the angle (αL, αR) between the transverse axis (Q) of the resting surface (5) and the horizontal (H) by actuating the actuator such that the actual inclined position is set to a predetermined target inclined position. The invention further relates to a method for the variable lateral positioning of a recumbent person.
