Man Who Founded Assisted Suicide Nonprofit Dies at One of His Own Clinics at Age 92, Days Before His Birthday

NEED TO KNOW

• A man who founded a non-profit that provides physician-assisted suicide has died at age 92

• Ludwig Minelli died at one of his Dignitas facilities on Nov. 29, less than a week before his Dec. 5 birthday

• The company said in a tribute that Minelli “stood unwaveringly for his convictions when it came to the protection of fundamental rights and the freedom of citizens”

The man who founded Dignitas — a non-profit that provides physician-assisted suicide — has died. He was 92.

Ludwig Minelli died “self-determinedly by voluntary assisted dying” at one of his own facilities on Saturday, Nov. 29, Dignitas announced in a news release.

Minelli, a lawyer who was also the founder and general secretary of the Swiss Society for the European Convention on Human Rights, died days ahead of what would’ve been his 93rd birthday on Dec. 5.

Dignitas said in a tribute that Minelli “stood unwaveringly for his convictions when it came to the protection of fundamental rights and the freedom of citizens.”

“Right up to the end of his life, he continued to search for further ways to help people to exercise their right to freedom of choice and self-determination in their ‘final matters’ – and he often found them,” the nonprofit added.

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Ludwig Minelli.

Minelli’s career began as a journalist, when he first worked with a Swiss newspaper in 1956. In the years to follow, his reporting career inspired him to start studying law in 1977, and he later graduated in 1981, Dignitas said.

He eventually founded Dignitas in 1998, with the belief that medically assisted suicide should be offered to individuals with terminal illness, as well as those with severe physical or mental illness.

The organization has strict guidelines in terms of accepting candidates. Dignitas has been involved in over 4,000 assisted suicide deaths as of 2024. It also works to provide palliative care, fights for legislation tied to right-to-die laws around the world and offers suicide attempt prevention.

“Minelli recognised early on that, as a matter of principle, people with a history of suffering also want to continue living if they can find a quality of life acceptable to them personally,” Dignitas said.

“Trying to talk someone out of suicide is not a suitable prevention method. Rather, the approach should be taking a person in a seemingly hopeless situation seriously, meeting them at eye level, and showing them all possible options to alleviate their suffering — including the possibility of ending their own life with professional support, safely and in a self-determined way in a setting that he or she personally deems dignified,” the nonprofit added. “It is up to the individual to decide which option to choose.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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