Dignitas publish their newsletter May 2025

Editorial

Dear reader

Assisted suicide is still prohibited by law in many countries. Free and responsible citizens continue to be patronised and prevented against their will from ending their suffering and life in a manner they personally consider dignified. Relatives and friends who respect the wish of a seriously ill person to die and who give him or her their support are still being treated as criminals.

Freedom of choice, self-determination and self-responsibility in life and at life’s end: this is what “DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity” continues to work for internationally;  in its political and legal work, in its daily advising of individuals seeking help, and in preparing and providing assisted suicide for suffering individuals who have made a clear and well-considered choice and who are still denied this right in their home country.

Feel free to share our newsletter with other interested parties. You are also welcome to show support for our goals and international activities by joining as a member or by making a donation.

The DIGNITAS team

Country Update

ENGLAND AND WALES The House of Commons discusses End of Life BillOn 16 May, the House of Commons started its debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This also involves further adjustments to the provisions. The final vote on the bill is expected sometime in June. Even if the majorities are not yet … read more

FRANCE The Assemblée to vote on an Assisted Dying Bill on 27 May Since Monday, 12 May 2025, the French parliament has been debating two bills, one on palliative care and one on assisted dying (“aide à mourir”). French Prime Minister François Bayrou had arranged for the original “projet de loi relatif à l’accompagnement des malades et de la fin de vie” to be split into two bills. His  … read more

PORTUGAL Assisted Dying Law yet to be implemented Guest article by Gilberto Couto, MD*The debate on medical aid in dying (MAID) or assisted dying in Portugal was revived around 10 years ago, after the creation of a civic movement for its decriminalization in 2015, and the public manifesto and petition to parliament (Assembleia da República, AR) that followed. Following the debate on this petition … read more

LITHUANIA What do the public and doctors think about Medical Assistance in Dying? Guest article by Benedikt Bachmetjev* and Artur Airapetian**In Lithuania, the topic of medical assistance in dying (MAID) is still quite new and rarely discussed. While some countries, like Switzerland, the Netherlands, or Canada, already have legal ways to help terminally ill … read more

Inside Dignitas

Review of the year 2024 and outlook for 2025

In 2024, the long-standing international legal commitment of the non-profit membership association “DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity” and the political activities for the human right to self-determination regarding one’s own end in life were continued. In Switzerland, the association continues to focus on securing access to assisted suicide for residents of public homes. A case initiated by DIGNITAS against France is pending at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). In the operational area, the comprehensive advisory work for individuals seeking help and suicide attempt prevention remained at the core of DIGNITAS’ activities. The association is receiving enquiries from an increasing number of countries and the medical conditions of those requesting assisted dying are becoming increasingly complex.

See our media release of 8 April 2025 for more details.

Did you know that…

… exercising a human right does not require “state authorisation”?

In many countries, prohibitions still make it impossible to exercise the (human) right and freedom to decide on time and manner of one’s own end in life and to make use of support in doing so. Or narrow laws excessively restrict options. 

The assumption, however, that “state authorisation” is required to exercise a human right is an erroneous one. Human rights always apply. Exercising them does not need to be legitimised by government, parliament, or administrative authorities.

Freedom is a valuable asset. It must always be protected and the exercise of a human right must not be made more difficult or even impossible by patronising, premature and unnecessary prohibitions and regulations. Exercising a right is not an obligation for anyone; this of course also applies to the “last human right”. Everyone is free to decide how they personally feel about assisted suicide and assisted dying in general. Likewise, every individual capable of judgement is free to decide for themselves how and when their suffering and life will end.