World

Swiss voluntary assisted dying pioneer checks out

By AAP Newswire

Dec 1, 2025

Ludwig A. Minelli — Ludwig A Minelli established Dignitas, a Zurich-based organisation supporting euthanasia. -AP

Ludwig Minelli, the Swiss founder of leading assisted-dying clinic Dignitas has died "self-determinedly by voluntary assisted dying".

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Dignitas said in a statement said that Minelli died on Saturday, shortly before his 93rd birthday.

Minelli had led a "life for freedom of choice, self-determination, and human rights", the statement said.

The association whose slogan is "To live with dignity - To die with dignity", has been offering assisted dying to thousands of terminally ill people since 1998, when it was founded by Minelli.

Minelli campaigned for decades, both in Switzerland and internationally, for the right to self-determination until the end of life

In Switzerland, active euthanasia is prohibited but assisted suicide is legal when the assistant does not act out of "selfish" motives, according to Article 115 of the Swiss Penal Code.

Swiss commercial services such as Dignitas also receive patients from other countries where assisted suicide is illegal.

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