Ludwig Minelli, Dignitas Founder, Passes Away at 92 After Choosing Assisted Suicide

Thu Dec 04 2025 21:05:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The founder of the Swiss right-to-die organization Dignitas, Ludwig Minelli, has died by assisted suicide at the age of 92, leaving a legacy of advocating for self-determination and human rights at the end of life.

Ludwig Minelli, who founded the Swiss right-to-die organization Dignitas in 1998, passed away at the age of 92 by assisted suicide. Minelli was a prominent figure in the movement for assisted dying, advocating for individuals' rights to make their own end-of-life decisions. Under his leadership, Dignitas has assisted thousands in their decision to die. His passing raises questions about the ongoing debates regarding assisted dying laws, which are evolving in various countries.

The founder of the Swiss right-to-die organisation Dignitas has died by assisted suicide, the group announced.

Ludwig Minelli, 92, passed away on Saturday, just days before his 93rd birthday.

In a tribute, Dignitas remarked on his commitment to 'freedom of choice, self-determination, and human rights.'

Since its establishment in 1998, Dignitas has facilitated assisted deaths for thousands. The conversation surrounding assisted dying has shifted in various countries recently, with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand passing new laws. The UK House of Lords is currently debating an assisted dying bill.

Opponents of assisted dying laws argue that such measures could put vulnerable individuals at risk of coercion.

Before founding Dignitas, Minelli began his career as a journalist for the German magazine Der Spiegel, later transitioning into law and human rights advocacy.

He was passionate about the right to die, promoting the mantra of 'dignity in life, dignity in death.' In a 2010 interview, he asserted, 'We have to struggle to implement the last human right in our societies: the right to decide how one ends their life, without risk and pain.'

Minelli initiated Dignitas after parting ways with another Swiss organisation, Exit, which he felt was too restrictive in its policies. Dignitas gained international fame by extending its services to non-Swiss residents who sought assisted suicide.

His work garnered criticism within Switzerland for perceived lack of transparency and for assisting non-terminal patients in ending their lives. He navigated various legal challenges, successfully appealing to the Swiss supreme court multiple times.

Dignitas noted his lasting legacy, referencing a 2011 ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that affirmed a person's right to decide the circumstances of their death.

While euthanasia remains prohibited in Switzerland, assisted dying practices have been recognized under Swiss law since 1942, provided they meet strict criteria that emphasize voluntary, non-profit motives.

Dignitas reaffirmed its commitment to operate in line with Minelli's philosophies, continuing its role as an advocate for self-determination and freedom of choice in life and death.