Welcome to DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity, the Swiss self-determination, autonomy and dignity group. We are a not-for-profit member’s society which advocates, educates and supports for improving care and choice in life and at life's end. Our advisory concept of combining palliative care, suicide attempt prevention, advance health care planning and assisted dying offers a basis for decision-making to shape life until the end. Since 1998, we are the spearhead for the worldwide implementation of ‘the last human right’

The basic information at a glance and a ‘click’:

>> Short Portrait of DIGNITAS

>> DIGNITAS' Blog / Latest News

>> FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

>> Joining, Membership fees and more

>> DIGNITAS' Suicide Attempt Prevention

>> Aims - Philosophy - Activities of DIGNITAS



Federal Constitutional Court of Germany

declares § 217 unconstitutional

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Article 217 of the German Criminal Code "geschäftsmässige Förderung der Selbsttötung", thus a prohibition of professional and dignified advisory work and help for a self-determined end of life, violates the Basic Law of Germany. The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe declared § 217 as void.

“DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity” has thus

been successful with its constitutional court complaints.

Freedom-orientated, sensible and legal thinking

on the base of human rights has won.

>> judgment by the Constitutional Court

England & Wales – Scotland – Ireland

DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity is a not-for-profit member society and its articles of association make provision for reduction or even complete exemption from having to pay fees for members in modest economic circumstances. However, there are significant other costs, emotional distress and more which people in the UK (and in other countries that still prohibit freedom of choice at life’s end) have to bear. Extensive research has been done on the true costs and consequences, and a report published:

The True Costs - How the UK outsources death to DIGNITAS

>> Full Report << >> Website <<

>> read Andrew Tyler's story

'People who have done nothing wrong except contract an illness deserve more

than a government whose bravery extends no further than to turn a blind eye.'

>> read more by Sir Terry Pratchett

People should have the right to choose a peaceful end,

says Simon Birch >> read more

New Zealand

>> Referendum on the End of Life Choice Act

>> Assisted dying in New Zealand and 2019 developments

Australia

>> Your Choice Tasmania

>> Go Gentle

>> The need for discussion around Voluntary

Assisted Dying Legislation



>> Nurses supporting Voluntary Assisted Dying

>> Voluntary Assisted Dying in Western Australia

>> Voluntary Assisted Dying in Victoria



Portugal

Civic Movement «Direito A Morrer Com Dignidade»

campaigns for freedom of choice in assisted dying.

>> Petição para a Despenalização da Morte Assistida

>> Direito A Morrer Com Dignidade

Campaign in Spain: Libres hasta el final !



>> dmd Derecho A Morir Dignamente España

Malta

ALS sufferer does not want to live in indignity

and pleas for a debate on assisted suicide

>> read more in «maltatoday»

United States of America

>> "Assisted dying is not the easy way out"

>> Catholic hospitals are denying aid in dying to patients even

in those states where such services have been legalized

>> The paradox of a government that cavalierly kills people

but prevents assisted suicide

>> Offering a Choice to the Terminally Ill

>> The last day of her life - the story of Sandy Bem and her family

>> The Economist: The right to die

South Africa

>> Times Live: 'Give me right to die'





>> DIGNITY South Africa

Biased Research



There has been news on a study about people from abroad going to Switzerland for assisted dying, published in the British Journal of Medical Ethics. The five Swiss charities working for the human right to a life with dignity and a self-determined end of suffering have analysed this study. It has many omissions and errors and contains statements which are wrong, misleading and inflammatory. The study is not representative as the authors did not use all data in Switzerland and they only analysed the years 2008 - 2012. The allegation that the number of people going Switzerland has doubled, bases on a selected analysis. The findings of the study are misleading.

>> Comments on the study "Suicide tourism: a pilot

study on the Swiss phenomenon"

>> Right-to-die organisations criticise public research NFP / NRP 67

>> Commentary in the Journal of Medical Ethics

>> Media: Reports of assisted suicde highly exaggerated

>> Shining a light on the National Research Programme “End of Life” NRP 67





Media Incompetence



Quite often, the media spreads truncated, misleading, hyped and false information about assisted dying and DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity. For example, they make believe that a mentally and physically healthy person could pay money and then get 'euthanasia' in a 'clinic' in Switzerland.

This is complete nonsense, of course.

The facts: In Switzerland, voluntary euthanasia is prohibited. A persons' ending of his or her own suffering and life by accompanied suicide generally takes place at the own flat/house of the person - the way it should be around the world. Access to assisted dying in Switzerland is not a matter of money: DIGNITAS is a not-for-profit association which grants reduction and exemption of paying costs, if need be. It is all a matter of of paperwork, patience, determination and responsibility, of a competent adult.

Don’t buy and don’t believe 'news', mainly spread by the tabloids.

All that these media companies intend, is to increase their profit by selling more

of their print / TV / online stuff and gain profitable advertisement contracts.

As said George Bernard Shaw, in "The Doctor’s Dilemma" (1906), act IV:

" . . . for a newspaper, not having to act on its descriptions and reports,

but only to sell them to idly curious people, has nothing but honor to lose

by inaccuracy and unveracity . . .".

There is only one reliable source of information from and about

DIGNITAS - To live with dignity - To die with dignity: this website