Eliana Close

Dr. Eliana Close is a Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow at the School of Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), specializing in health law, bioethics, and end-of-life decision-making. Her work focuses on the legal and ethical challenges surrounding voluntary assisted dying (VAD), healthcare rationing, and pandemic triage policies.

• Education:
  • Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) in Psychology, University of Calgary
  • Master of Arts in Law, University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar)
  • Doctor of Philosophy, QUT (Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award)

Research Themes

• Development of forward-thinking laws for VAD
• Transparent triage protocols during public health crises
• Legal-ethical conflicts in critical care and resource allocation
• Health regulation and socio-legal policy analysis

Scientific Contributions

• Key architect of VAD training programs in Australia
• Principal investigator in the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship project
• Advisory role in the Queensland Children’s Hospital Clinical Ethics Consultation Service

Notable Awards

• Rhodes Scholarship
• QUT Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award
• Contributions to national law reforms on VAD

Collaborative Efforts

• Collaborates with Professors Ben White and Lindy Willmott
• Part of international studies on MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying)
• Advises regulatory bodies in Australia and Canada