INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Australia's oldest scientist, who caused a stir when his university tried to vacate his office aged 102, will fly to Switzerland in early
May to end his life, reigniting a national euthanasia debate.David Goodall, who is now 104, does not have a terminal illness but his quality
of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fast-track appointment with an assisted dying agency in Basel, euthanasia advocates said."I
greatly regret having reached that age," the ecologist told broadcaster ABC on his birthday earlier this month
It's not sad particularly
What is sad is if one is prevented"."My feeling is that an old person like myself should have full citizenship rights including the right of
assisted suicide," he added.Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of
Victoria became the first to legalise the practice last year.But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to
terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months.Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the
past, but the proposals have always been defeated, mostly recently in New South Wales state last year.Exit International, which is helping
Goodall make the trip, said it was unjust that one of Australia's "oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the
other side of the world to die with dignity"."A peaceful, dignified death is the entitlement of all who want it
And a person should not be forced to leave home to achieve it," it said on its website Monday.The group has launched a GoFundMe campaign to
get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and has so far raised more than Aus$17,000
(US$13,000).Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was
declared unfit to be on campus.After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed.He has produced dozens of
research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals.(This story has not been edited by staff and
is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
