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| David Goodall hours before his Final Moment |
David, the noted London born ecologist and botanist, did not have terminal illness, who had been barred from seeking help to end his life in his home country Australia, said the decision had been driven by his deteriorating quality of life.
Goodall 'died peacefully' in Basel, tweeted Dr Philip Nitschke, founder of Exit International. They had helped him make the journey from Australia.
As the web site states Dr Philip Nitschke played Ode of Joy of Beethoven's 9th Symphony at the time of death, which was chosen by David himself.
The grandfather of 12 had attracted over $20,000 donations from the public to help fund his journey to Europe from Perth, earlier this month.
In an interview on 8th May with CNN, he exclaimed that he would love to be able to walk into the bush and see the world around. He could hear and enjoy birdsong but impaired by lack of vision.
He was the honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University set off from Australia a week ago and stopped in Bordeaux, France to see family before arriving in Basel on Monday.
Goodall told journalists on Wednesday, day before his death :
I no longer want to continue life.
I am happy to have the chance tomorrow to end it and appreciate the help of the medical profession here in in making that possible.
Bringing euthanasia on the argument table
The 104-year-old Scientist hoped the widespread interest in his case would spur Australia and other countries to rethink their legislation.
He also argued when the issue comes to right-to-die
I would have preferred to have (ended) it in Australia and I greatly regret that Australia is behind Switzerland.Goodall was the active member of Exit International for last 20 years and advocated to Euthanasia be legalized worldwide.
Goodall secured a fast-track appointment with the foundation in Basel after he attempted but failed to commit suicide on his own earlier this year. He said of the suicide attempt
I would have been much more convenient for everyone if I had been able to, but unfortunately it failed.
But he was happy that he had been offered the 'Swiss option', since he has been able to see most of his family, which is spread over few countries, in the run up of his final day.
David Goodall's life
Born in London on 4th April 1914, when he was a child moved to Australia with his family members, just months before the outbreak of World War I
Goodall completed his Bachelor of Science degree and followed by Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1941 both at University of London (Imperial College of Science and Technology). His PhD research was conducted at East Malling Research Station in Kent on assimilation in the tomato plant.
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| David Godall in 1950s |
He then edited a 30-volume series book called 'Ecosystems of the World' written by more than 500 Authors In 2016 he was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia .
In the same year, aged 102, he won a battle to keep working on the campus of Edith Cowan University, where he was a honorary research associate.
The World and Assisted Suicide
Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries and was banned in Australia until the state of Virginia became the first to legalise the practice last year.
But the legislation, which takes effect in June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months.
In Switzerland , assisted suicide is allowed only if the person assisting acts unselfishly. It is the only country with centres offering assisted suicide to foreign nationals.
In terms of Right-to-die three legal words are cultivated so far
- euthanasia
- assisted suicide
- assisted dying
- Euthanasia is an intervention undertaken with the intention of ending a life to relieve suffering, for example a lethal injection administered by a doctor
- Assisted suicide is any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves, for example by providing them with the means to do so, most commonly by prescribing a lethal medication
- Assisted dying is usually used in the US and the UK to mean assisted suicide for the terminally ill only, as for example in the Assisted Dying Bills recently debated in the UK
For further details you may visit
According to Swiss law meanwhile, anyone who is of sound mind and who has over a period of time voiced a consistent wish to end their life can request so-called assisted voluntary death (AVD). Asked on Wednesday if he had any hesitations or doubts the 104-year-old said
In Goodall's case that meant he had himself to open the valve that allowed the short-acting barbiturate to mix with a saline solution and flow into his vain.
It is very difficult to justify for a common people like me when a very old man with absolute state of mind decides his final step. When life hits us hard, every situation becomes irritable to digest we feel like useless we must see for the options available other than choosing death.
These situations can cause us to be confused, afraid, depressed, anxious and even angry. All these feelings are completely normal. We are humans, we are imperfect and we are flawed. But after recognizing all our emotions, we have to come to terms with our situation. We’ve got to face our problems head on.
As Rabindranath Tagore wrote -- death seems deadly, separation appears to be a crater - when I ignore You.
You is the Supreme Self . We must take shelter in the adobe of the Supreme Self. He will only take care our distress.
Assisted dying: What does the law in different countries say?
Goodall's last step and Switzerland
According to Swiss law meanwhile, anyone who is of sound mind and who has over a period of time voiced a consistent wish to end their life can request so-called assisted voluntary death (AVD). Asked on Wednesday if he had any hesitations or doubts the 104-year-old said
No, none whatsoeverIn assisted dying the person must be physically capable carrying out the final deed on their own.
In Goodall's case that meant he had himself to open the valve that allowed the short-acting barbiturate to mix with a saline solution and flow into his vain.
Final Thought
It is very difficult to justify for a common people like me when a very old man with absolute state of mind decides his final step. When life hits us hard, every situation becomes irritable to digest we feel like useless we must see for the options available other than choosing death.
These situations can cause us to be confused, afraid, depressed, anxious and even angry. All these feelings are completely normal. We are humans, we are imperfect and we are flawed. But after recognizing all our emotions, we have to come to terms with our situation. We’ve got to face our problems head on.
As Rabindranath Tagore wrote -- death seems deadly, separation appears to be a crater - when I ignore You.
You is the Supreme Self . We must take shelter in the adobe of the Supreme Self. He will only take care our distress.
Wherever I traverse Within your world, endless - Misery, death galore, Pang of separation prevails. Death seems deadly, Separation appears to be a crater - When I ignore you And try to idolise myself. O' brimful, your feet Have everything expected, But, fear, that I possess - Is only the one absent. Duty, misdeeds and remorse All wither at once - If I am bestowed with Your image agleam within life.
(Translation from Rabindranath Tagore Lyric- by Anjan Ganguly)
The song featured in the Movie Noukadubi
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP David Goodall <a href="https://t.co/Kjz9hV2N0u">pic.twitter.com/Kjz9hV2N0u</a></p>— Partha Bose (@kuntinandan) <a href="https://twitter.com/kuntinandan/status/994543718731399168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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https://twitter.com/kuntinandan/status/994543718731399168
Thank you Tania
ReplyDeleteBhishon bhalo laglo .
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. Ei ghatanata aamake bhishan bhabe nara diyechhilo.
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