Ludwig Minelli, the founder of the Swiss right-to-die organization Dignitas, has died at the age of 92 by assisted suicide, according to the group. His passing occurred just days before what would have been his 93rd birthday. Dignitas acknowledged Minelli’s commitment to the principles of freedom of choice, self-determination, and human rights.
Minelli established Dignitas in 1998, and the organization has since assisted thousands of individuals seeking to end their lives. In recent years, various countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, have changed their legal positions on assisted dying, while the UK House of Lords is currently reviewing an assisted dying bill. Critics of legalizing assisted dying express concerns that vulnerable individuals could be pressured into making such decisions.
Many individuals who have sought Dignitas’s services traveled from countries where assisted dying is illegal. Throughout his life, Minelli was an advocate for the right to die, coining the phrase “dignity in life, dignity in death.” In a 2010 interview, he emphasized the importance of allowing people to make their own end-of-life choices without suffering.
Before his work with Dignitas, Minelli had a background in journalism, serving as a correspondent for the German publication Der Spiegel. He later studied law and focused on human rights issues. Throughout the years, Minelli faced several legal challenges but successfully defended his organization’s mission through appeals to the Swiss supreme court.
Dignitas noted Minelli’s lasting impact, referencing a 2011 European Court of Human Rights ruling that upheld the right of individuals capable of judgment to choose how and when to end their lives. While euthanasia remains illegal in Switzerland, assisted dying has been permissible for several decades, allowing individuals to administer lethal substances themselves. Dignitas has pledged to continue Minelli’s legacy by promoting self-determination and freedom of choice at all stages of life.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79x8x82gy4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss