A 104-year old Scientist Prepares for Assisted Death

Champagne bubbles danced in fancy glasses and birthday candles burned atop a cheesecake marking 104 years of a long and accomplished life...But Goodall was not wholeheartedly celebrating the milestone last month in Perth, Australia. The botanist and ecologist, who is thought to be the country’s oldest scientist, said that he has lived too long.

And now, he said, he is ready to die....
“My feeling is that an old person like myself should have full citizenship rights, including the right of assisted suicide,” the 104-year-old man added.

Goodall set out on the trip Wednesday, traveling more than 8,000 miles to northwestern Switzerland, where he plans to end his own life next week.

Switzerland, like most other countries, has not passed legislation legalizing assisted suicide; but under some circumstances its laws do not forbid it.

“I should be glad when I get on the plane — so far, so good,” he said at the airport, wearing a shirt that read: “Ageing Disgracefully.”