Playing with fish

Some people do handle their fish for various reasons... for example, I've seen aquarists who remove their fish by hand because they feel that netting is dangerous for the creature. Others have done it in order to gently remove a sick fish for treatment. It doesn't typically cause disease to get your human germs on the fish. However, it can damage the fish's scales if you aren't careful, which can allow harmful bacteria into the wound. Others have already answered your question about your goldfish dying, so I won't touch that, but yes, goldies CAN be handled... but only with extreme care.