David Goodall was born in London in 1914 and has lived in Australia for a number of years. After a successful career as a scientist, he has continued as an honorary research assistant at the University of Perth, even after reaching the age of 100. Although he hasn't a terminal illness - other than being very old and realising his physical condition and quality of life is deteriorating and finite - he is ready to die. In fact, he recently attempted suicide, but was revived. He 'greatly regrets' living to his advanced age; 'I'm not happy, I want to die,' he said. Goodall has now arranged to go to Switzerland, where he will be assisted with his final wish. What a sad situation.
The news of Goodall comes in the same week as another sufferer, Noel Conway, is appealing in court against a decision last year to refuse his right to assisted dying. Conway, 68, a retired lecturer from Shropshire in England, was diagnosed in 2014 with motor neuron disease; a progressive, incurable, muscle-wasting disease. He is now on a ventilator 23 hours a day and can only move his right hand, head and neck. Conway is clearly suffering and is too ill to physically attend court in London. Speaking against his wishes are organisations such as 'Care Not Killing', which is calling for a blanket ban on assisted suicide, saying that a ban is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety for the protection of the rights and freedom of others. Yes, I can agree that safeguards are essential, but those can and would be put in place; it's barbaric to watch people suffering in the last stages of their lives and not be legally able to help them end it.
The question of whether people should be able to seek help to die is a subject of fierce debate around the world. Although the State of Victoria is due to allow assisted dying for terminally-ill patients from 2019, that wouldn't help Goodall. In most other countries, the will of the people is ignored by politicians and their right to die is refused or only quietly tolerated in special circumstances. Switzerland takes an enlightened approach and is thus a final destination for many.
The laws need to be changed in a civilised society. As David Goodall has said, 'Dying is part of life'. How long will it be before we can accept that and allow people to make an informed choice, rather than suffer unnecessarily at the end of their days on Earth.