[Guardian] Australia’s oldest scientist, David Goodall, has ended his own life, surrounded by family at a clinic in Switzerland.The British-born 104-year-old was forced to travel on a one-way ticket from his home in Western Australia to Switzerland where liberal assisted suicide laws allowed him to end his life legally, in contrast to his home where it remains forbidden.
In his final hours, Prof Goodall enjoyed his favourite dinner: fish and chips and cheesecake. And in his final minutes, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, best known for its last movement Ode to Joy, was played in line with his wishes.
He was accompanied to the Basel clinic of Swiss assisted-dying organisation Life Circle by Dr Philip Nitschke, the founder of the Australian right-to-die group Exit International.