Swiss founder of right-to-die organization ends life at 92

Ludwig A. Minelli, founder of Dignitas and a major advocate for assisted dying, died through assisted death at 92. He played a key role in the 2020 German ruling allowing a self-determined death and won several legal battles supporting end-of-life rights. A former journalist and later a lawyer, Minelli founded Dignitas in 1998. The group now has about 10,000 members and continues to offer assisted-death services in countries where it is legal or partly legal. Euthanasia remains illegal in Germany.

The founder of the Swiss right-to-die organization Dignitas has passed away through assisted death, the association announced on Saturday. Ludwig A. Minelli, a pioneering figure in the global right-to-die movement, died on November 29, 2025, just days before his 93rd birthday. His death, carried out according to the principles he advocated for decades, marked the end of a life devoted to challenging legal boundaries and reshaping the global conversation around dignified death.

Minelli played a key role in efforts to decriminalize assisted death in Germany in 2020, a milestone ruling that transformed the legal landscape and expanded the rights of individuals seeking control over their final moments. For many supporters of end-of-life choice, Minelli’s influence extended far beyond Switzerland, shaping legislative debates, court rulings, and ethical discussions across Europe and beyond.

He began his professional career as a journalist in 1956, working for a Swiss newspaper, and later became the first Swiss correspondent for the German magazine Der Spiegel, a position he held from 1964 to 1974. His years in journalism sharpened his communication skills and understanding of public policy, governance, and human rights—elements that would later define his legal and activist work.

After leaving journalism, Minelli pursued legal studies, which positioned him as one of the most impactful legal advocates in Europe’s right-to-die movement. In 1998, he founded Dignitas – To live with dignity – To die with dignity, an organization dedicated to providing assisted-suicide services and promoting the rights of individuals to make autonomous decisions about the end of their lives. His work placed him at the center of numerous legal battles, both in Switzerland and internationally, leading to several successful appeals before the Swiss Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

Dignitas highlighted a 2011 European Court of Human Rights ruling that affirmed a mentally competent person’s right to determine the manner and timing of their own death. The organization described Minelli as a “tenacious and unflinching warrior” who remained deeply committed to defending individual autonomy in fundamental life decisions. His advocacy was instrumental in Germany’s 2020 Federal Constitutional Court ruling, which recognized the constitutional right to a self-determined death.

In an interview with a German media outlet, Dr. Martin Goßmann, head of the medical team at the German Assisted Dying Association, explained that while doctors and legal experts may provide guidance, the patient must personally carry out the act of ingesting life-ending medication. Euthanasia, where another person actively ends a patient’s life at their request, remains illegal and punishable in Germany.

Dignitas currently has about 10,000 members and continues to provide assisted death or accompanied-suicide services to people from around the world. Assisted death is fully or partially legal in countries including Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands, and is also available in Canada, Colombia, Cuba, and Ecuador for individuals experiencing unbearable suffering. In the United States, assisted death is permitted for terminally ill patients in ten states.

For anyone struggling with emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, professional help is essential. Support services and global helplines are available to provide confidential assistance.