Scientist opts for assisted death
Goodall does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated
Australia’s oldest scientist, wearing a top labelled “ageing disgracefully”, has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die.
David Goodall does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fasttrack appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel.
He got on a plane in Perth late Wednesday surrounded by friends and family saying their final goodbyes.
He will spend several days with other family in Bordeaux, France, before heading to Switzerland where he is due to end his life on May 10.
“I don’t want to go to Switzerland, though it’s a nice country,” he told broadcaster ABC before leaving. “But I have to do that in order to get the opportunity of suicide which the Australian system does not permit. I feel very resentful.”
Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legalise it last year.
Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth’s Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus.
After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals.