AUSTRALIA’S oldest scientist has raised over $17,000 to help him fly to Switzerland to end his life.

Emeritus Professor David Goodall, from Western Australia, does not have a terminal illness but is upset at having lived to 104 as his quality of life continues to deteriorate.

“I greatly regret having reached that age,’ he told the ABC.

“I’m not happy. I want to die. It’s not sad particularly. What is sad is if one is prevented.

“If one chooses to kill oneself, then that should be fair enough. I don’t think anyone else should interfere.”

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Controversial euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke told a WA parliamentary inquiry into end-of-life choices his organisation Exit International was assisting Professor Goodall to travel to Switzerland.

Prof Goodall has been a member of the organisation for almost 20 years and will fly out of Perth on Wednesday, accompanied by an Exit International nurse to an assisted suicide organisation the Life Circle service in Basel, Switzerland.

Exit International has started a GoFundMe campaign to fly Pro. The page has raised almost $17,000 by Monday afternoon.

Dr Nitschke, who burnt his practising certificate in 2015 to protest against Medical Board conditions on his registration, said it was a shame Professor Goodall had to undertake an arduous trip to have a peaceful death at the time of his choosing.

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Marshall Perron, who introduced the world’s first euthanasia legislation in the Northern Territory before stepping down as chief minister, said it was disgraceful Prof Goodall did not have the option of dying in his own home with loved ones by his side.

“A compassionate society would accommodate the wishes of a competent citizen who believed their life has run its course and was devoid of any joy,” Mr Perron said.

The inquiry resumes this week, but Premier Mark McGowan has already said any voluntary euthanasia laws proposed by his government would be restricted to people with a terminal illness.

Prof Goodall made international headlines in 2016 when the university reversed a decision to kick him out of his office on campus amid concerns his long public transport commute was a health risk.

Considered a leading botanist and ecologist, Prof Goodall was born in London in 1914.

He emigrated to Australia in 1948 and began working at the University of Melbourne.

He celebrated his 104th birthday earlier this month and has since made the decision to travel to Switzerland where voluntary euthanasia is legal.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has ruled out assisting Prof Goodall because he does not have a terminal illness.

‘My feeling is that an old person like myself should have full citizenship rights including the right of assisted suicide,’ Dr Goodall told Seven News.

Prof Goodall is set to travel from Perth to Europe with his friend and Exit International’s Western Australian Co-ordinator Carol O’Neil.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.