Scientist, 104, chooses to end life

A 104-year-old British-born scientist has ended his life in Switzerland, a right-to-die group said.

Australian biologist David Goodall was declared dead at 12:30pm yesterday, Exit International director Philipp Nitschke said.

Mr Goodall had travelled to Switzerland to take advantage of the country’s assisted suicide laws.

The scientist, described by Exit International as its first member, said this week he had been contemplating the idea of suicide for about 20 years.