David Goodall ends his life in Basel assisted suicide

Australian David Goodall in Liestal near Basel, Switzerland, where he ended his life on Thursday. Associated Press

The 104-year-old Australian scientist who drew international attention this week to his right-to-die campaign ended his life on Thursday, advocacy group Exit International has said.

“At 12.30 today (10th May) Professor David Goodall, 104 years of age, died peacefully at Life Cycle, Basel, Switzerland from an infusion of Nembutal,” Exit International founder Philip Nitschke tweeted shortly after Goodall’s passing.

Goodall was not suffering from any terminal diseases, but had decided that his deteriorating quality of life meant that it was time to go.

At a press conference in Basel on Wednesday, he told reporters that he was happy to have the chance to end his life in Switzerland but would have preferred to do so back home. 

“Everyone over middle age should have the right unquestioned to end their lives as and when they choose, but we have quite a way to go in Australia for that,” he said. 

 Switzerland is one of the few countries in the world to allow assisted suicide, and hundreds come to the country every year to do so with groups such as Dignitas and Life Circle, Goodall’s choice.

+ Ending one’s days in Switzerland

The Associated Press quoted Exit International’s Nitschke, who was present at Goodall’s side, saying that the British-born Australian answered, “with great clarity”, the control questions to ensure patients are aware of who they are, where they are, and what they are about to do.

He requested that no funeral or remembrance service be held and that his body be donated to medicine or his ashes sprinkled locally.