David Goodall, a 104-year-old academic decided to embrace death – through assisted suicide, on May 10, in Switzerland’s Basel. His wish to end his life voluntarily has drawn international attention because this is possibly the first case where a person has decided to end his life despite not suffering from terminal illness, but simply due to old age.
In April, Goodall blew candles on his birthday cake, sipped champagne, while those around him sang “Happy Birthday”. However, the 104-year-old strongly objected, “It is not a ‘Happy’ birthday at all.”
A month later, David Goodall, flew to France, spent some time with his family and then went to Basel in Switzerland where assisted dying is legal.
“I greatly regret having reached this age. I am not happy. I want to die,” he had said to Australian Broadcasting Corporation before leaving.
A Basel-based euthanasia agency arranged his assisted suicide. Goodall though, was not too happy that he had to travel all the way to a Swiss town to fulfil this wish. But Australia legislation does not allow euthanasia and many are upset in the country – including the Australian Medical Association – about Goodall’s decision, it was reported.
He attended a press conference in Basel, where he clearly expressed his wish to die, sang the song he wanted to be played in his final moments, and ended his life through voluntary euthanasia.