The founder of the Swiss right-to-die organization Dignitas has died by assisted suicide, the group reports.

Ludwig Minelli, 92, passed away on Saturday, just days before his 93rd birthday.

The organization honored Minelli's legacy, stating he had dedicated his life to the principles of freedom of choice, self-determination, and human rights.

Minelli established Dignitas in 1998 and has since facilitated assisted dying for thousands of individuals.

In recent years, several countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, have reconsidered their assisted dying laws. Currently, the UK House of Lords is debating an assisted dying bill.

Detractors of such legislation argue that it could lead to coercion of disabled and vulnerable individuals.

Beginning his career in journalism, Minelli worked as a correspondent for Der Spiegel before shifting his focus to law and human rights advocacy.

He passionately campaigned for assisted dying rights, famously coining the phrase dignity in life, dignity in death for Dignitas.

In a notable 2010 BBC interview, he articulated that the last human right is the decision concerning one's end of life, asserting the importance of having this end without risk or pain.

Minelli's departure from the older Swiss organization Exit, due to perceived restrictive rules, led to the founding of Dignitas, which gained international attention for offering assisted suicide to non-Swiss citizens.

Though celebrated for his contributions, he faced criticism domestically for the organization's transparency and for offering assistance to individuals not classified as terminally ill.

He encountered several legal challenges but succeeded in multiple appeals to the Swiss Supreme Court.

Dignitas noted that Minelli's efforts were pivotal, referencing a 2011 European Court of Human Rights ruling affirming an individual's right to independently determine their end-of-life choices.

While euthanasia remains illegal in Switzerland, assisted dying has been legally permitted since 1942 under strict conditions prohibiting profit motives and ensuring the individual is of sound mind.

Dignitas affirmed its commitment to continue operating in Minelli's spirit, advancing the cause of self-determination and freedom of choice in life and death.

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