Short portrait of DIGNITAS
Who are we and what we do
DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity is a Swiss non-profit member society founded in 1998 with members and supporters worldwide. DIGNITAS works to promote, implement and secure freedom of choice, self-determination and self-responsibility, in life and at life’s end. This includes the right of every individual to decide on the time and manner of his or her own end in life.
DIGNITAS is committed to human rights, in Switzerland and internationally, engaging in legal and political action and in daily advisory work for individuals from all over the world who seek support and help.
Our main activities
• Comprehensive advice and information for individuals seeking support on questions of quality of life and end-of-life choices, including advance health care decision, palliative care, etc.
• Suicide attempt prevention
• Enhancing and safeguarding freedom of choice and self-determination through further development of law
• Sharing know-how with institutions and experts in the fields of law and medicine
• (Physician-supported) accompanied suicide
What we want to achieve worldwide
Why should an individual who has led and shaped all of his or her life in a self-determined and responsible way not be allowed access to options for ending it with legal, professional support when he or she chooses? Or even be refused access to whatever other health care option he or she chooses?
Everyone should have the right to determine the time and manner of his or her own end in life – a right which has been recognised by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights in a case led by DIGNITAS, and further judgments. And everyone should receive help to realise this decision, if – for whatever reasons – he or she suffers grievously and, after careful consideration, comes to the conclusion that there is no acceptable way for him or her to continue living.
DIGNITAS is committed to enforcing freedoms and rights in these personal matters of choice worldwide. It has the goal of becoming unnecessary: if access to legal and safe help with end-of-life wishes is embedded in the public health care systems of every country, and the taboo on self-deliverance lifted, no one will need to turn to DIGNITAS anymore.
A self-determined life and end of life should be a matter of course!
Switzerland as a role model
With its progressive legislation in many areas, including assisted suicide, advance health care planning and palliative care, Switzerland sets an example which is highly regarded worldwide. DIGNITAS is committed to safeguarding and further developing this humanitarian approach.
DIGNITAS conducts physician-supported accompanied suicide within the frame of law in Switzerland, for persons residing in or outside of Switzerland, operating alongside the public health care system. There are numerous interfaces with hospitals, care facilities, hospices, health care professionals, etc. In order to improve care and choice, DIGNITAS engages in a comprehensive approach by educating and filling information gaps, for seriously ill persons, for the institutions and experts who treat and care for them, and for the general public.
In addition to improving the dissemination of know-how, it is one of DIGNITAS’ goals to have all its services integrated into the public health care system, similar to the models already in place in Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada and other countries.
Only those who are informed have real freedom of choice!
The brochure “Dignitas Short Portrait” is also available for download as a PDF.