Australia's oldest scientist David Goodall, who wants to end his life with a voluntary assisted dying program in Switzerland, must be judged to be of sound mind before the procedure can go ahead next week.
"The procedure will only go ahead once two doctors agree that he is 100 per cent clear in his wishes," Erika Preisig, a doctor and founder of the Lifecycle clinic, told German press agency DPA in Geneva on Saturday.
The Swiss clinic says it has helped 73 people to die over the past year.
Professor Goodall, who doesn't have a terminal illness but whose quality of life has deteriorated at age 104, flew to France on Wednesday to visit family before dying in Switzerland on May 10.
"I no longer find much joy in life. Up to, even up to, say, the age of 90 I was enjoying life. But not now," Prof Goodall told the ABC.
Goodall, who worked at Perth's Edith Cowan University, told broadcaster ABC he was resentful about having to go abroad to die as Australia does not allow voluntary euthanasia.
There were a few tears but most of the friends and family who gathered to farewell Prof Goodall at Perth Airport on Wednesday had prepared themselves to say goodbye.
From his wheelchair, he hugged them all in turn, thanking everyone and wishing them a wonderful life before he and his nurse boarded the plane.
A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $20,000, well exceeding the target, to upgrade them from economy to business class.
Prof Goodall, an Emeritus Professor in ecology at Edith Cowan University, is being assisted by an organisation in Basel and Australian euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke.
Dr Nitschke said Prof Goodall attempted suicide about two months ago after suffering a fall, ended up in hospital and his daughter could only get him out after arranging an independent psychiatric review.
A crowdfunding effort from Exit International, a euthanasia advocacy group, has raised almost $US20,000 to cover Goodall's travel costs, including two business class tickets for him and his nurse.
Exit's founder, Philip Nitschke, said this week that Goodall had tried to commit suicide two months ago after a fall left him with a "slightly deteriorated" quality of life.
The scientist then decided it was time for him to die, Nitschke said.
The doctors who treated him had threatened to prevent him from leaving Australia but he left the country unhindered on Wednesday.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
Local Aboriginal Medical Service details available from www.bettertoknow.org.au/AMS
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