Ludwig Minelli

Ludwig Amadeus Minelli (5 December 1932 – 29 November 2025) was a Swiss human rights lawyer and former journalist who founded Dignitas, a Swiss assisted-suicide organisation.

Originally in a legal advisory role with the Zurich branch of Exit, Minelli formed Dignitas due to his frustrations with its structure. He was a target of prolonged criticism and insults as head of Dignitas, being labelled "Dr Death"German:

Minelli supported physician-assisted suicide and believed that it should be available to both healthy and sick individuals. He influenced other areas of Swiss jurisprudence through appeals to the Federal Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights, which include a 1983 ruling that found that there were limited circumstances in which innocent parties are responsible for court costs.

Life and career Early life Ludwig Amadeus Minelli was born in Zurich on 5 December 1932, the eldest of four children born to a house painter and decorator. Minelli grew up in Küsnacht, in the canton of Zurich. He recalled developing a sense for "justice" in 1944, when a substitute teacher in his primary school class hit a younger pupil: "during the next break, I complained to a neighbouring farmer who I knew was on the school board". German:

Assisted-dying advocacy Minelli joined the Zurich branch of Exit, an assisted-dying organization as the legal advisor in 1992. Eventually becoming disillusioned with the organization, he formed Dignitas with two former colleagues briefly after resigning from his position at a board of directors meeting in May 1998.

Dignitas proved controversial, and Minelli as head of the organization was a frequent target of criticism and insults, including from prosecutors and church and media figures. Dignitas's services to foreigners were characterized as "death tourism", Minelli was personally accused of exploiting patients for profit, while newspapers labelled him as "Dr Death" (German: ).

Personal life and death Minelli was an atheist.

In 2010, Minelli was reported to have become a millionaire. He said that the wealth had come from his mother's inheritance.

Minelli died by assisted suicide on 29 November 2025 at his home in Forch, in the municipality of Maur, aged 92. In the previous year, he affirmed his willingness to die by assisted suicide and had said that he had planned to hold a celebration at which his close friends and family, including his children and grandchildren, would be present when he died.

Selected works