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Euthanasia deaths skyrocket in Australian state of Victoria
An annual report from Victoria, Australia, reveals an astounding spike in euthanasia deaths in the state over a five-year period. With the eligibility set to expand, the figures are expected to rise even higher in the future.
A new report from the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board in Victoria, Australia, shows there were 140 voluntary assisted dying (VAD) deaths from June 2025-July 2026.
This was a 59% increase over the previous year.
VAD deaths are projected to rise even further, as a number of safeguards will be removed next year.
Despite the high numbers, advocates are still calling for more people to utilize VAD.
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board's (VADRB) report, which covers from July 2025 to June 2026, shows that there were 140 voluntary assisted dying (VAD) assisted suicide and euthanasia deaths in that year, up from 88 deaths the year prior, marking an increase of 59.09%.
A total of 2,188 people have died via assisted suicide or euthanasia since 2019. VAD deaths now account for 1.1% of all deaths in the state — nearly four times the rate recorded when VAD was first legalized in 2019-2020.
The report authors were "pleased" that the removal of a host of initial "safeguards," scheduled to take effect in 2027, will likely lead to an even greater increase in euthanasia deaths in the future.
Among the safeguards set to change are the removal of a "gag clause" that prohibited doctors from suggesting VAD to their patients. Other changes will:
extend the medical prognosis timeframe
reduce the waiting period
remove a third assessment
expand practitioner eligibility
Though the numbers are alarming, VADRB's report views the increase in deaths in a positive light.
"It has become an established, and proven safe and compassionate end-of-life care option for eligible Victorians," the report notes, calling euthanasia "highly valued and treasured by Victorians at a most vulnerable time in their life."
The report authors also express dismay that VAD isn't more widely used, writing:
The increasing number of requests likely reflects growing community awareness of VAD. This is reassuring. However, the number of requests from culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians remains much lower than expected. This suggests that more needs to be done to share information about VAD more equitably across our population, particularly with those who do not speak English at home.
The overall tone — that euthanasia is a positive thing that should be more widely available — is par for the course when the culture of death takes precedence. When illness, suffering, and even loneliness are viewed as inconvenient and expensive — while the value of each human life is dismissed — suicide becomes an attractive option foisted upon the most vulnerable.
Alisdair Hungerford-Morgan, Chief Executive of Right To Life UK, noted that Victoria is headed down the same 'slippery slope' seen so often in places that have legalized euthanasia:
“Euthanasia deaths in Victoria have risen by 400% in five years and they rose by nearly 60% in the last year alone.
Sadly, as in other jurisdictions, once assisted dying is made legal, often more and more people have their lives ended every year.
This will likely only get worse once the law expands. The removal of safeguards and the expansion of assisted suicide and euthanasia in Victoria, Australia, is a very concerning development. It provides yet another example of how the slippery slope of assisted suicide so often becomes a reality, and that there is a clear tendency towards reducing safeguards and widening the eligibility criteria in places where assisted suicide has been legalised."
Euthanasia is not dignified or caring. Instead, treating each person with dignity and providing them the best palliative and medical care possible is the answer.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
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·Euthanasia deaths skyrocket in Australian state of Victoria
An annual report from Victoria, Australia, reveals an astounding spike in euthanasia deaths in the state over a five-year period. With the eligibility set to expand, the figures are expected to rise even higher in the future.
A new report from the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board in Victoria, Australia, shows there were 140 voluntary assisted dying (VAD) deaths from June 2025-July 2026.
This was a 59% increase over the previous year.
VAD deaths are projected to rise even further, as a number of safeguards will be removed next year.
Despite the high numbers, advocates are still calling for more people to utilize VAD.
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board's (VADRB) report, which covers from July 2025 to June 2026, shows that there were 140 voluntary assisted dying (VAD) assisted suicide and euthanasia deaths in that year, up from 88 deaths the year prior, marking an increase of 59.09%.
A total of 2,188 people have died via assisted suicide or euthanasia since 2019. VAD deaths now account for 1.1% of all deaths in the state — nearly four times the rate recorded when VAD was first legalized in 2019-2020.
The report authors were "pleased" that the removal of a host of initial "safeguards," scheduled to take effect in 2027, will likely lead to an even greater increase in euthanasia deaths in the future.
Among the safeguards set to change are the removal of a "gag clause" that prohibited doctors from suggesting VAD to their patients. Other changes will:
extend the medical prognosis timeframe
reduce the waiting period
remove a third assessment
expand practitioner eligibility
Though the numbers are alarming, VADRB's report views the increase in deaths in a positive light.
"It has become an established, and proven safe and compassionate end-of-life care option for eligible Victorians," the report notes, calling euthanasia "highly valued and treasured by Victorians at a most vulnerable time in their life."
The report authors also express dismay that VAD isn't more widely used, writing:
The increasing number of requests likely reflects growing community awareness of VAD. This is reassuring. However, the number of requests from culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians remains much lower than expected. This suggests that more needs to be done to share information about VAD more equitably across our population, particularly with those who do not speak English at home.
The overall tone — that euthanasia is a positive thing that should be more widely available — is par for the course when the culture of death takes precedence. When illness, suffering, and even loneliness are viewed as inconvenient and expensive — while the value of each human life is dismissed — suicide becomes an attractive option foisted upon the most vulnerable.
Alisdair Hungerford-Morgan, Chief Executive of Right To Life UK, noted that Victoria is headed down the same 'slippery slope' seen so often in places that have legalized euthanasia:
“Euthanasia deaths in Victoria have risen by 400% in five years and they rose by nearly 60% in the last year alone.
Sadly, as in other jurisdictions, once assisted dying is made legal, often more and more people have their lives ended every year.
This will likely only get worse once the law expands. The removal of safeguards and the expansion of assisted suicide and euthanasia in Victoria, Australia, is a very concerning development. It provides yet another example of how the slippery slope of assisted suicide so often becomes a reality, and that there is a clear tendency towards reducing safeguards and widening the eligibility criteria in places where assisted suicide has been legalised."
Euthanasia is not dignified or caring. Instead, treating each person with dignity and providing them the best palliative and medical care possible is the answer.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
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