SoylentNews

takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

David Goodall: Scientist, 104, begins trip to end his life [bbc.com]

On Wednesday, 104-year-old scientist David Goodall bid farewell to his home in Australia to fly across the world to end his life. The lauded ecologist and botanist is not suffering from a serious illness but wishes to bring forward his death. Key to his decision, he says, has been his diminishing independence.

"I greatly regret having reached that age," Dr Goodall said on his birthday last month, in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "I'm not happy. I want to die. It's not sad particularly. What is sad is if one is prevented."

Assisted dying was legalised by one Australian state [bbc.co.uk] last year following a divisive debate, but eligibility requires a person be terminally ill. It is illegal in other states. Dr Goodall says he will travel to a clinic in Switzerland to voluntarily end his life. However, he says he resents having to leave Australia to do so.

David Goodall [wikipedia.org].

Also at USA Today [usatoday.com], CNN [cnn.com], and The Local [thelocal.ch].

Original Submission