Euthanasia Deaths Reach Record High in Australian State, Prompting Calls for Inquir

06.11.2026

The number of people dying through euthanasia and assisted suicide in the Australian state of Queensland has reached a record high, raising serious concerns about the consequences of legalising assisted dying.

According to figures highlighted by Right to Life UK, 1,082 people died through euthanasia or assisted suicide during 2025–26, representing a 36% increase since the first full year following legalisation.

The latest official figures reveal that assisted deaths now account for approximately 3% of all deaths in Queensland, the highest proportion recorded by any jurisdiction worldwide in its third year of legalisation.

The upward trend has continued, with 283 assisted deaths recorded between July and September 2026 alone. Euthanasia, where a medical practitioner administers the life-ending substance, accounted for approximately 80% of these deaths.

Particularly concerning are figures showing that 503 people requesting assisted dying had not accessed palliative care at their initial assessment, compared with 359 two years earlier.

The figures have prompted calls for an inquiry into Queensland’s assisted dying legislation, particularly amid proposals to further liberalise the law.

The continued rise in assisted deaths raises fundamental questions about whether vulnerable patients are receiving adequate care and support before considering ending their lives.

The developments also underline the importance of ensuring that seriously ill and vulnerable people have access to comprehensive palliative care, rather than allowing assisted death to become an increasingly normalised response to suffering.