How 104-year-old David Goodall is spending his last day before assisted suicide
The 104-year-old Australian scientist who travelled to Switzerland to die today has cheerfully sung 'Ode to Joy' in his last press conference on the eve of his suicide.
British-born David Goodall, who is not ill, says his quality of life has deteriorated to such a point that he wants to die. He has vision, hearing and mobility troubles common with his advancing age.
“At my age, or less than my age, one wants to be free to choose the death when the death is at an appropriate time,” David said.
“My abilities have been in decline over the past year or two, my eyesight over the past six years. I no longer want to continue life. I’m happy to have the chance tomorrow to end it.”
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, but it is frowned up by many doctors and people who believe it should be reserved for the terminally ill.
However, David’s supporters want assisted suicide to be accepted as a legitimate choice for elderly people, like David, who are ready to go.
Life Circle, a small assisted suicide advocacy group based in Basel, and Dr Philip Nitschke, founder of Australian right-to-die group Exit International, are assisting David in his wish and hope to show that it is reasonable for people who are extremely old but not terminally ill to end their lives, too.
Professor Goodall, who was born in 1914, flew from his home in Western Australia to France last week to see relatives before arriving in Switzerland.
“Luckily my family who are in various parts of Europe and America have rallied round and come to see me, and I welcome the opportunity to see them, which I probably wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t pursued this Swiss option,” he said.
He spent his last day touring the Basel University Botanical Gardens with three of his grandchildren.
“I feel very privileged that I will be able to be there when my grandfather passes away,” Mr Goodall’s 30-year-old grandson Daniel told the Daily Mail.
“He is so brave and I am so glad that he has been able to make his own choice.
“It is his wish that he can end his life, but such a shame that he was not allowed to do it in his own country,” he said.
David was cleared by two Swiss doctors, including a psychiatrist on Wednesday who said he was of sound mind, to proceed with the “Swiss option”.