Dignitas founder Ludwig Minelli, dies by assisted suicide aged 92

    I thought it might be good to post this, since we have talked about "death with dignity" here on the forum. Here is a news article about him:

    Ludwig Minelli: Dignitas founder dies by assisted suicide aged 92, group says
    Ludwig Minelli founded the group in 1998, which has since helped thousands of people to die.
    www.bbc.com
    Quote

    Across his life, he campaigned passionately for the right to die, giving Dignitas the slogan "dignity in life, dignity in death".

    In a 2010 interview with the BBC, he said: "I am persuaded that we have to struggle in order to implement the last human right in our societies. And the last human right is the right to make a decision on one's own end, and the possibility to have this end without risk and without pain."

    Hello Kalosyni, thanks for sharing the link to the 2010 interview with Ludwig Minelli.
    I leave you a link to an article on the renowned botanist David Godall, who at 104 chose to end his life by medical suicide at the Basel clinic in Switzerland circa 2013.

    Here is the link to the article and video of him speaking:

    David Goodall: Scientist, 104, ends his life in Switzerland
    The ecologist and botanist, who was not terminally ill, went to Switzerland to voluntarily end his life.
    www.bbc.com
    Quote from Raphael Raul

    Hello Kalosyni, thanks for sharing the link to the 2010 interview with Ludwig Minelli.

    I just now read that interview (which was linked within the quoted text)...I had been focusing on the main article about his death (linked in the big box above the quote.)

    Thank you Raphael Raulthe additional article on David Goodall is also good to read.

    Two types of situations here: 1) those with a terminal illness and who want assistance; 2) those who are old and have poor quality of life, but haven't been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and yet want assistance.

    The "death with dignity" is so much better than having to come up with one's own method.

    • New

    Hello Kalosyni, yes, there are those with terminal illness with months to live and those who are old and have a poor quality of life.
    Now, for those with a terminal illness of six months or less, there was an agreement that was reached, this past December 17th, 2025, to have signed in 2026, here in New York City, "The Medical Aid in Dying Act".
    But it is only for those who a medical doctor has certified that they have six months or less to live, due to a terminal illness, and also approved by a psychiatrist, that it is of their free will and that no one is coercing them. Once this is signed, New York State will be the 13th State to have "Medical Aid in Dying". Here is the link to the news and Hochul speaking, which I found very moving:

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