PROFESSOR David Goodall has ended his life at a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland.
The 104-year-old Australian scientist elected to receive a legal injection. After a cannula was administered to his arm, Professor Goodall turned the wheel to allow the solution to flow. He fell asleep within a few minutes and died a short time afterwards at around 12.30pm.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Professor Goodall, who did not have a terminal illness, said his body was failing him and he was ready for the end of his life.
"At my age, and even rather less than my age, one wants to be free to choose death when the death is at an appropriate time," he told reporters.
"It's my own choice to end my life tomorrow, and I look forward to that and I am grateful for the Swiss medical profession to make that possible."
Euthanasia advocate and founder of Exit International Philip Nitschke was at the death as 'music director'.
"David's chosen music was the Ode to Joy of Beethoven's 9th symphony," Dr Nitschke said. "David died at the moment the Song, sung in German, concluded."
Dr Nitschke said he was extremely sad to lose such an "inspiring man of science".
"David Goodall is exactly the sort of member that exit is made of and is proud of.
"It was a wonderful experience to know him and be so intimately involved in his final weeks of life. Especially after David's 20 odd years of membership of Exit International," he said.
"David has requested his body be donated to medicine and, if not, that his ashes be sprinkled locally. He wishes to have no funeral, no remembrance service or ceremony."
Professor Goodall's grandchildren attended his final appointment.
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