Speeches / Talks
28 November 2025
Case Management Society UK
9. Study Day – Exploring the Complexities Surrounding a Dignified Death.
19 February 2025
O.A.T, Lugano
18 October 2024
Dánaraðstoð – reynsla annarra landa | Assisted dying – the experience from other countries
with Lífsvirðing, félag um dánaraðstoð, Dying with Dignity Canada, Nederlandse Vereniging voor een Vrijwillig Levenseinde and DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity, at the Endurmenntun Háskóla Íslands, Reykjavik
6 April 2024
killers in medicine – unravelling the mysteries of mortality
Swiss Medical Students Convention 2024, Zürich
21 October 2023
End-of-life-choices to safeguard quality of life – Switzerland as an international role model
Swiss Medical Students Convention 2023, Geneva
Medicine in Movement
Talk and Q & A round (PDF)
14 – 15 June 2023
Seminario Libertad para Morir: por la legalización de la eutanasia
Talk and Q & A round
Seminario Libertad para Morir: por la legalización de la eutanasia, Mexico
5 June 2023
Young Presidents’ Organization Intercontinental
Talk and Q & A round with YPO IC Young Presidents’ Organization Intercontinental (PDF)
24 February 2023
Palliative Care Society at King’s College
Talk and Q & A round with the Palliative Care Society at King’s College, London
20 February 2023
Discussion, talk and Q & A round
Discussion, talk and Q & A round with Shatin Integrated Home Care Service, Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, and Children & Youth Services, Hong Kong
8 February 2023
Talk and Q & A round
Talk and Q & A round with the Columbia University Seminar on Death, New York
31 August 2022
Kursus om døden i kulturel sammenhæng
Talk and discussion round for Danish medical doctors for a course about death perception in cultural context, Dansk Etnomedical society
8 June 2022
Talk and Q & A round
Talk and Q & A round at the Rotary Club Zurich International
15 May 2022
“Going to Switzerland”
Talk and Q & A round
Talk and Q & A round with members of the Hemlock Society of San Diego, California
12 March 2022
EUMANS! 1st Open Congress of citizens for sustainable peace, freedom, and democracy
Reader to complement the talk of DIGNITAS (PDF)
Website of the EUMANS! Congress in Warsaw, Poland
Video of the talk
EUMANS! are citizens and activists from all around Europe engaged in a bottom-up political mobilization for socially and democratically sustainable EU policies. The idea to join efforts and act together is by Marco Cappato, a former MEP and nonviolent leader in Italy.
26 November 2021
Care, Choice and Planning ahead for quality of life until the end – including the Swiss ‘model’ of physician-supported accompanied suicides and the DIGNITAS approach
1st Croatian student symposium of bioethics, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb.
Reader to complement the talk and Q & A round (PDF)
4 November 2021
End of life choices and planning ahead for quality of life until the end
The DIGNITAS approach & Swiss system
Talk and discussion with members of Rotaract Zürich International
8 July 2021
Cracking the taboo on suicide is the best means to prevent suicide attempts and deaths by suicide
In the 21st century, we have something better to offer than leaving our fellow human beings to jump in front of a train or shoot or poison themselves. Really caring forpeople means taking their wishes seriously, meeting them at eye level. People contemplating suicide deserve respect, care, compassion, taboo-free communication, and safe, legal end-of-life options. Not belittling them as vulnerable. Not labelling them as mentally ill and potentially incompetent. Not upholding the taboo on suicide and the end of life.
Script (PDF)
3 March 2021
Sanctity of Life and Death with Dignity
Talk and Q & A round with participants of The Harvard College in Asia Program (HCAP), from the Universities of Tokyo, Leiden and Geneva (HCAP).
25 February 2020
Care and choice in life and at life’s end: The DIGNITAS’ approach & Swiss system
Talk and discussion with executive students of the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, USA; coursework Business of Medicine Physician MBA, Global Healthcare Experience in Switzerland & The Netherlands.
11 September 2019
Jersey: Assisted Dying Debate
Motion “that Jersey should enact assisted dying legislation” (PDF)
30 March 2019
The Swiss system of assisted dying – and beyond
Talk and discussion at the annual meeting of RTVD Rätten Till en Värdig Död, the Swedish right-to-die organisation, Stockholm.
23 November 2018
Time is running – do we need to catch up?
Care and choice in life and at life’s end
Speech and discussion at the docnet Symposium, Doctoral Network at the University of St. Gallen.
4 October 2018
Talk and discussion
Talk and discussion together with Dr Luthman and Dr Jersild by invitation of Prof Ludvigsson, Professor at the Karolinska Institutet and pediatrician, at Örebro University Hospital, Sweden
11 September 2017
Kursus om døden i kulturel sammenhæng
Talk and discussion round for Danish family physicians for a course about death perception in cultural context, Danish Etnomedical Society
9 January 2017
DIGNITAS’ advisory work – Plan ahead and prepare – The Swiss model of assisted dying
Speech and discussion for Australian physicians and lawyers in St. Moritz
14 November 2016
DIGNITAS’ advisory work and more to safeguard quality of life
Reader/brochure to complement the speech (PDF)
STEP – The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
2016 Special Interest Spotlight Session. End of Life Issues: Law and Practice
28 April 2016
VI. Konference Neuropsychiatrického Fóra, Praha, Czechia
Booklet to complement the speech of DIGNITAS (PDF)
Website of the Neuropsychiatrické Fórum
Interview by Vojtěch Berger Czech Radio Český rozhlas, Radiožurnál
26 January 2016
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Assisted Dying Panel debate to coincide with the opening of the exhibition death: is it your right to choose?
Speech and slides of DIGNITAS (PDF)
21 July 2014
How DIGNITAS safeguards the quality of life through comprehensive and open-outcome counselling
Speech and discussion at the ETH Sustainability Summer School 2014 on Future Health: Technology and innovation
14 November 2013
„Assisted Suicide (Scotland) BilL”
In Scotland, parliament member Margo MacDonald presented a revised proposal for an „Assisted Suicide (Scotland) BilL”, to make it lawful, in certain circumstances, to assist another to commit suicide; and for connected purposes.
Details of the Bill (Link to the website of the Scottish Parliament)
Speech of DIGNITAS, at the press launch in Edinburgh (PDF)
2 November 2012
World Dignity in Dying Day 2012
Speech of Ludwig A. Minelli at the Conference on Assisted Dying at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
1 November 2012
Work methods and experiences of self-determined end of life in Switzerland
Speech of Sandra Martino at a NVVE (Nederlandse Vereniging Voor Een Vrijwillig Levenseinde) Congress.
26 October 2012
DIGNITAS and the right to live and die in dignity – Fourteen years of efforts in suicide attempt prevention, pro life, pro choice and pro assisted dying
Speech (PDF) at a SOARS (Society for Old Age Rational Suicide) and Friends At The End (FATE) meeting and the Third Annual SOARS Lecture.
15 June 2012
Suicide-Prevention must be complemented by Suicide-Attempt-Prevention
Speech (PDF) of Ludwig A. Minelli on this issue at the congress of the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies in Zürich.
1 December 2007
DIGNITAS in Switzerland – its philosophy, the legal situation, actual problems, and possibilities for Britons who wish to end their lives
Speech (PDF) of Ludwig A. Minelli on this issue at a meeting of ‘FATE – Friends At The End’ in London.
5 July 2007
The decision of the Swiss Federal Court of November 3, 2006, the negative reactions of the world of medicine, and its consequences
Ludwig A. Minelli at the congress (PDF) of the “Liberal and Radical Fraction” of the European Parliament in Bruxelles.
20 September 2006
Some information about DIGNITAS
Speech (PDF) of Ludwig A. Minelli at the ‘Liberal Party Convention’ in Brighton.
6 November 2005
Video conference Zürich – Brisbane
Third biannual meeting of ‘exit International’ (Australia) in Brisbane; Speech of Ludwig A. Minelli
20 October 2004
That this Motion would legalise Euthanasia
Ludwig A. Minelli to the “Literary & Historical Society” in Dublin.