That can be said Ludwig Minnelli He died according to his law. founder DignitasThe pioneer of assisted dying died on Saturday at the age of 93.
It was founded by Minnelli, a lawyer, in 1998, which is when discussions about euthanasia began. The news was reported by the association.
Since its creation, Dignitas has provided support for medically assisted suicides under a specific legal regime: Switzerland does not allow this “Active euthanasia” (i.e. administration of death), but medically assisted suicide – as long as the person himself carries out the final act.
The organization declared “a life dedicated to freedom of choice, self-determination and human rights.”
“Minnelli passed away a few days before his 93rd birthday,” a statement from the association said, choosing assisted suicide “in a manner determined by himself.” Dignitas has More than 10,000 members It provides its services to people residing abroad.
The association’s team announced that it “will continue the work of its founder, ensuring that the organization asserts itself and advances on the international scene as a guarantor of self-determination and freedom of choice throughout life and at the end of life.”
Minnelli, a journalist and later a lawyer, founded Dignitas in 1998, but faced legal obstacles to establishing the organization, so he turned to the Swiss Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
Your job “He had a lasting impact on Swiss legislation”which currently does not allow euthanasia, while medically assisted suicide, that is, when a person expressing a wish to die personally carries out the lethal act, has been legal for decades.
It is defined as “An uncomfortable and quiet fighter”His association states that Minnelli had tremendous legal and political competence, complemented by creativity, investigative talent, and the ability to write impeccable arguments on the spot.
Farewell to Minnelli reopens the debate in several European countries where the practice has not yet become legal, such as Italy, as well as in countries such as Germany, where reservations have recently been raised about the system that made it possible Kessler twins.
The debate on medically assisted suicide and the freedom to die in a way that is protected and framed by a legal system reveals a heterogeneous map at the European level.
he UK He passes a new law aimed at overcoming the Suicide Act of 1961, while in the country Germany In its decision issued in 2020, the Constitutional Court confirmed that there is a right to self-determination in death and to request and receive assistance from third parties to implement suicidal intent.
As Bild newspaper explained, in Germany this practice is not automatically permitted in all cases: those who wish to resort to it must prove that they are “acting responsibly and of their own free will”, be of legal age and have their legal capacity recognised.
in FranceOn the other hand, the new regulation, which is in the process of approval, was preceded and prepared by an important experiment in deliberative democracy, such as the establishment of a citizens’ conference convened to provide a considered opinion on the end of life.
With information from ANSA.