Series: Insights into working at Dignitas
13 February 2026
Part 4: An interview with Michael* from the External Relations Team
What brought you to Dignitas?
Two things: On the one hand, my mother passed away shortly before I applied to Dignitas, which made me more sensitive to the issue. On the other hand, I was attracted by the job advertisement, especially the description of the “combative lawyer” they were looking for.
What does “further development of law” mean in the context of the association’s activities?
We are active on two levels: national (i.e. Switzerland) and international. At the national level, where much is already well established, our task is primarily one of monitoring. The focus is on preserving the fundamental concept of freedom, and the legal framework thereof, in Switzerland. If we deem it appropriate, we also take action at the cantonal level. A current example is the popular initiative “Self-determination at the end of life, also in retirement and nursing homes” in the canton of Zurich, where Dignitas is actively represented on the initiative committee.
Dignitas believes that people have a fundamental right to access a self-determined end of life and legal, professional assistance for this in their own country. Internationally, we look at the legal situation in a country and compare it with our understanding, and the one of our members, of the implementation of this “last human right.” If we identify a need for action, we consider whether and how we can respond. We often try to use legal proceedings to persuade key players in politics and legislation to make assisted dying possible in their own countries. The “Neue Zürcher Zeitung”[1] once aptly summed up this concern as follows: “The fact that a phenomenon like ‘going to Switzerland’, that is, assisted dying tourism, exists at all, is a fundamental failure of politics on the part of countries with restrictive laws. They are abandoning their citizens in a desperate situation.”
The question is always: What is the appropriate means for the respective context?
What qualities are important for your work?
Among other things, one needs to be able to analyse, focus on the essentials, and listen – in different languages and different contexts. It is also important to have “antennae” to be able to respond to a counterpart while recognising and respecting their boundaries. And, surprisingly, creativity is always in demand. Especially when one intends to conduct a legal procedure, it is necessary to find an appropriate starting point and line of argumentation. This can be a straightforward process, as was the case a few years ago in Austria, when we determined that a provision in the Austrian criminal law violated the Austrian constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights[2]. But it can also be more complex, as in a case against France[3] in which Dignitas was involved behind the scenes and which was ultimately taken to the European Court of Human Rights.
What do you like about working at Dignitas in general and in the External Relations Team in particular?
At Dignitas in general, I appreciate the flexible arrangements regarding working hours and working from home. The diversity of issues in the field of external relations is stimulating to me. I also like the team structure: in some cases, I work quite independently, but I value reflecting on and discussing my ideas within the team, as well as exchanging ideas with people from completely different professional backgrounds. These “door openers” for a different perspective suit me very well, as I always want to look beyond my own horizons.
Which moments / situations do you remember most vividly?
What has stayed with me most vividly from my first few weeks at Dignitas was the legal case against Austria mentioned before. I had only just started at Dignitas, and the first lockdown[4] in Switzerland had just ended, when I was given the opportunity to follow that case in a hearing at the Constitutional Court in Vienna. This and the atmosphere surrounding the court hearing were impressive. That was also where I first met some people – especially among the plaintiffs – directly involved with the issue of self-determination over one’s own end of life from different perspectives.
Which moments / situations particularly affect you?
In my role as a lawyer in the External Relations Team, I have little direct contact with our members and therefore rather rarely encounter emotionally challenging situations. Nevertheless, there are always touching moments, for example at a conference on end-of-life issues in Zurich: a member of the audience spoke up and said that she had received the “provisional green light”[5] for assisted suicide and that knowing to have a real option had given her so much will to live that she did not want to make use of it for the time being. Dignitas’ practical experience also shows that having the option to possibly make use of assisted suicide can have a life-prolonging effect and improve one’s quality of life. The conference participant confirmed this in an impressive way.
How has working at DIGNITAS changed you?
My horizons have definitely broadened, very much so. I have also noticed that I talk about certain topics more frequently and openly in my private life. I share much more about my work in my personal circle today than I did in my previous jobs – obviously, without giving away confidential information.
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*Michael is an attorney and has been with Dignitas for some 5 years now. The External Relations Team, in addition to the further development of law is mainly responsible for external communications, relations with other players and organisations in Switzerland and abroad, as well as a variety of activities in the area of education and training.
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Part 1: Carola from the First Contact Team
Part 2: Myriam from the Planning Team
Part 3: Andrea and Tino from the Assisted Dying Companion Team
[1] https://www.nzz.ch/meinung/die-sarco-show-gefaehrdet-die-errungenschaften-der-schweizer-sterbehilfepraxis-ld.1839886 (Paywall; in German)
[2] More information about the legal case in Austria can be found in the sections News and Court rulings of our website
[3] More information about the legal case in France can be found in the News section of our website
[4] “First lockdown” is used here in the common meaning of the term in Switzerland, i.e. the first phase of COVID-19 measures in spring 2020.
[5] If a member receives the “provisional green light”, they have fulfilled one of several important requirements for assisted suicide to be conducted. Find out more about the assisted suicide process on our website.
