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" by newspapers and being accused of financially exploiting patients. Dignitas was known for offering assisted suicide to non-Swiss citizens whose countries prohibit the practice.

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.