The founder of the Swiss right-to-die organization Dignitas, Ludwig Minelli, has died by assisted suicide, the organization stated. Minelli, aged 92, passed away just days before his 93rd birthday.
Dignitas commemorated Minelli, recognizing his dedication to freedom of choice, self-determination, and human rights throughout his life.
Since its inception in 1998, Dignitas has assisted thousands with their right to die. With an evolving global perspective on assisted dying, several countries including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have enacted supportive laws, while the UK is currently exploring a proposed assisted dying bill.
Opponents often express concerns regarding the potential coercion of vulnerable individuals, particularly those with disabilities, into ending their lives.
Minelli initially forged his career as a journalist for the German magazine Der Spiegel before pivoting to law and human rights advocacy. He founded Dignitas after parting ways with the previously established Swiss organization Exit, which he believed imposed overly restrictive regulations.
His slogan for Dignitas, dignity in life, dignity in death, encapsulated his ethos. In a significant 2010 interview with the BBC, he remarked on the importance of struggling to establish what he believed to be the ultimate human right: the right to choose one's own end without facing risk or suffering.
Though he faced criticism regarding the transparency of Dignitas' financial practices and its decision to provide assisted dying to those who weren't terminally ill, his combined legal and humanitarian efforts led to important judicial endorsements, such as a 2011 ruling from the European Court of Human Rights affirming individuals' rights to self-determination concerning their death.
Dignitas stated that it will continue to operate in accordance with Minelli's vision, remaining steadfast in its mission to advocate for self-determination and freedom of choice, both in life and at life's end.
