Swiss Assisted-Suicide Pioneer Dies by Assisted Death at Age 92

Ludwig Minelli, the founder of Dignitas — the Swiss assisted-suicide and right-to-die organisation — has ended his own life through assisted dying at one of his own clinics, the organisation announced. He was 92 years old, and his death came just days before what would have been his 93rd birthday.

Minelli, a former journalist turned human-rights lawyer, founded Dignitas in 1998 to support individuals seeking a dignified end to life — particularly those with terminal or unbearable suffering. Over the decades, his work helped shape the global debate on voluntary assisted dying and personal autonomy. In a tribute, the organisation described him as a “pioneer and fighter” who remained committed to the right of citizens to make decisions about their own lives and deaths.

With his passing, Dignitas affirmed it will continue to operate in the spirit of its founder, upholding the principles of self-determination and dignified end-of-life choice that he championed.

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