The Australian state of Victoria has seen a 400 percent increase in deaths by euthanasia

The organization Right to Life UK has strongly condemned the rapid increase in the number of assisted suicide cases in the Australian state of Victoria, calling on British authorities to focus on developing palliative care services. According to Christian Today, Australia’s experience has become a key argument for opponents of euthanasia legalization in the United Kingdom, where a recent parliamentary vote reaffirmed the rejection of such measures.

According to official data, the number of euthanasia cases in the state of Victoria has increased by 400 percent over the past five years. In the past year alone, this figure rose by 59%, and the proportion of such deaths among all fatalities reached 1.1%, compared to 0.3% in 2019–2020. Of particular concern is the fact that the number of applicants without access to palliative care has increased by 50%.

Alicedale Hungerford-Morgan, Executive Director of Right To Life UK, noted that the situation in Victoria clearly demonstrates the “slippery slope” effect: once the procedure is legalized, safeguards gradually weaken and the criteria for access are broadened. Specifically, in 2027, Australia plans to increase the projected life expectancy required for a patient to qualify for euthanasia from six to twelve months, as well as allow doctors to independently initiate such proposals.

In the United Kingdom, the debate over the legalization of assisted suicide remains extremely heated. Although attempts to legalize this procedure have been made in Parliament at least ten times since 2000, the most recent vote resulted in a victory for pro-life advocates. Human rights advocates insist on the need to create conditions under which access to high-quality palliative and social care would become a priority, thereby eliminating the very notion of the need for euthanasia.

As a reminder, the Netherlands previously recorded the first case of euthanasia performed on a two-year-old child, made possible by updated regulations that took effect in February 2024. A specialized commission ruled that the attending physician’s actions were lawful and in good faith.