104-year-old makes trip across the world to die
Switzerland group will assist Aussie in suicide
GENEVA – As a 104-year-old Australian scientist prepared to end his life Thursday in a Swiss assisted-suicide facility, right-to-die organizations expressed outrage that he had to travel across the world to accomplish his goal, instead of being able to die peacefully in his own country.
David Goodall, one of about 200 foreigners who come to die in Switzerland each year, isn’t terminally ill, but he told Australian media after his birthday last month that his quality of life deteriorated and he wanted to die.
Australia bans assisted suicide, so Goodall flew from his home in Perth to Switzerland, where the practice is legal.
“It’s the consequence of the absurd Australian law, upheld by ignorant politicians, which denies people like Mr. Goodall access to legal, humane and compassionate end-of-suffering options,” Dignitas, one of Switzerland’s three assisted-death groups, told USA TODAY in a statement.
Goodall arrived Monday in Basel, where he will die at the Lifecircle assisted-suicide center.
Asked at the airport whether he was sure he wanted to go ahead with his plan, Goodall replied, “Oh yes. That’s what I’m here for.”
He will hold a final news conference Wednesday to explain again his reasons for choosing to end his life in another country.
“His story of elective, rational suicide by the elderly is an important one,” said Philip Nitschke, director of Exit International, a right-to-die organization in Australia and other countries where assisted suicide is illegal.
A friend will accompany Goodall to Lifecircle, where he is to receive a fatal dose of barbiturates. The lethal cocktail is normally ingested, but since Goodall can’t swallow, the substance will be injected intravenously. Goodall himself will have to open the valve that releases the liquid to comply with Swiss law that bans the interference of third parties in this process.