Former Archbishop of Canterbury reiterates call to legalize assisted suicide in Britain

Lord George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has called on British lawmakers to legalize assisted suicide in the United Kingdom.

During a speech at the House of Lords on Monday, Carey, who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, praised countries that have legalized assisted suicide, according to The Christian Institute.

"The example of Canada and other countries show that laws can be made that protect the most vulnerable and halt the unnecessary prolongation of life, which for some is not worth the candle," Carey told the lawmakers.

The former archbishop admitted that he was "out of step" with the Church of England, but he maintained that his stance on the subject is driven by "love and compassion."

Carey had thrown his support behind a bill to legalize assisted suicide in 2015, but it was defeated in the House of Commons by a vote of 330-118. During that time, The Most Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, urged MPs to reject the bill.

"It would be very naive to think that many of the elderly people who are abused and neglected each year, as well as many severely disabled individuals, would not be put under pressure to end their lives if assisted suicide were permitted by law," Welby said at that time.

Carey's comments came after Baroness Margaret Jay of Paddington urged the British parliament to vote on the issue again.

"This is a gentle and compassionate approach to dying, which is working effectively and safely for the minority who make this choice," Jay stated.

However, Baroness Masham of Ilton, who uses a wheelchair and campaigns for the rights of the disabled, argued that changing the law could put older, frail and disabled at "risk of family pressure."

Speaking for the parliament, justice minister Lord Keen of Elie stated that "there should be no change in the law."

Under Suicide Act 1961, assisted suicide is punishable up to 14 years in prison. But in 2010 the Director of Public Prosecutions issued guidelines stating that anyone acting with compassion to assist someone who decided to has decided to die would be unlikely to face criminal charges.

According to latest figures, 300 people a year are opting to end their lives in the U.K. due to terminal illness. Some travel to Switzerland where assisted suicide is legal as long as no "self-seeking motives" are involved.