Ludwig Minelli, the pioneering founder of Switzerland’s renowned right-to-die organization Dignitas, has passed away through assisted suicide just days before his 93rd birthday. The organization confirmed his Saturday death while celebrating his lifelong advocacy for “freedom of choice, self-determination, and human rights.”
Minelli established Dignitas in 1998, creating what would become one of the world’s most prominent assisted dying organizations. Under his leadership, the organization has facilitated end-of-life choices for thousands of individuals, many traveling to Switzerland from countries where assisted dying remains prohibited.
The legal landscape surrounding assisted dying has evolved significantly during Minelli’s advocacy career. Several nations including Australia, Canada and New Zealand have implemented legislation permitting various forms of assisted dying, while the UK House of Lords continues to debate proposed legislation.
Minelli’s journey to becoming a right-to-die advocate began with a career in journalism, serving as a correspondent for German news magazine Der Spiegel before studying law and developing his human rights focus. His work faced numerous legal challenges, though he successfully defended his organization through multiple appeals to the Swiss supreme court.
In a 2010 BBC interview, Minelli articulated his philosophy: “I am persuaded that we must struggle to implement the last human right in our societies—the right to make a decision on one’s own end, and the possibility to have this end without risk and without pain.”
Dignitas emphasized that Minelli’s legacy includes influencing significant legal precedents, notably a 2011 European Court of Human Rights ruling affirming an individual’s right to determine the manner and timing of their death. The organization pledged to continue operating according to Minelli’s vision as “a professional and combative international organization for self-determination and freedom of choice.”
While euthanasia remains illegal in Switzerland, assisted dying—where medical practitioners provide lethal drugs that individuals self-administer—has been legal for decades. Critics of assisted dying legislation maintain concerns about potential coercion of vulnerable individuals, though safeguards remain central to ongoing debates worldwide.