Dignitas founder ends his own life at one of his clinics days before his birthday

The founder of the Dignitas assisted dying clinics has died aged 92.

The human rights lawyer had ‘chosen to end his life’ at one of his own clinics on November 29, just days before his birthday, the not-for-profit Swiss clinic announced.

In a four-page tribute, Dignitas said: ‘He stood unwaveringly for his convictions when it came to the protection of fundamental rights and the freedom of citizens.’

Minelli started his career as a journalist at a Swiss newspaper and later became Der Spiegel’s first correspondent in Switzerland.

Fascinated by how the European Convention on Human Rights could be enforced beyond national borders, he started studying law.

During his studies, he founded the Swiss Society for the European Convention on Human Rights.

In 1998, Minelli set up the clinic to he