The founder of Swiss right-to-die group Dignitas has died through assisted death, the association said Saturday.

Ludwig A. Minelli was a pioneer in the field of assisted death, having led efforts to decriminalize it in Germany in 2020.

Minelli died November 29, 2025, shortly before his 93rd birthday.

He founded the association "Dignitas – To live with dignity – To die with dignity" in 1998 and faced numerous legal challenges. He made several successful appeals to the Swiss Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Minelli began his career as a journalist with a Swiss newspaper in 1956 and was the first correspondent for the German news magazine Der Spiegel in Switzerland between 1964 and 1974.

He later studied law and went on to make a lasting impact on Swiss legislation. Dignitas noted a 2011 ECHR ruling that recognized the right of a person capable of judgment to decide the manner and timing of their own end of life.

The organization described Minelli as a "tenacious and unflinching warrior" when it came to defending people's autonomy to make fundamental decisions about their lives.

What to know about assisted death in Germany

Dignitas said Minelli's work was crucial to the decriminalization of assisted suicide services in Germany.

In 2020, Germany's Federal Constitutional Court ruled that individuals have a constitutional right to a self-determined death.

In a recent interview with German outlet FOCUS Online, Dr. Martin Goßmann, head of the medical team at the German Assisted Dying Association, said third parties can offer assistance such as medical or legal advice, but the patient must carry out the act of ingesting the life-ending drug.

Euthanasia, where another person actively helps someone die at their request, remains punishable by law in Germany.

What to know about assisted death services in the world

Dignitas said it currently has about 10,000 members and offers assisted death or accompanied suicide services to people from around the world.

Assisted death is fully or conditionally available in Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands, according to the campaign group Dignity in Dying.

Canada, Colombia, Cuba, and Ecuador also offer services for people experiencing unbearable suffering, the group said.

In the US, assisted death is legal for terminally ill people in 10 states.

If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: https://www.befrienders.org/.

Material from AFP was used in the article. 

Edited by: Louis Oelofse