By SAMUEL SMITH
The former head of the Church of England has urged U.K. lawmakers to legalize physician-assisted suicide, renewing his stance on the controversial issue that is considered “out of step” with the view of the Anglican Communion.
(Photo: REUTERS/Ferran Paredes)George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, leads a ceremony of prayer in the Crypt Chapel at his official residence in central London on Oct. 5, 2001.
“The Assisted Dying Bill requires us to turn this stance on its head, not merely legitimizing suicide, but actively supporting it,” he continued. “We are asked to sanction doctors participating in individuals taking steps to end their lives. This is a change
of monumental proportions both in the law and in the role of doctors; it is little wonder that it is opposed by the medical profession.”
Welby also signed onto a letter signed by other religious leaders in the U.K. that urged lawmakers to oppose the 2015 bill.
“In the U.K., some 500,000 elderly people are abused each year, most by family members, often for financial reasons. Many of these would also be vulnerable to pressure to end their lives prematurely,” the letter states. “It may not be possible fully to meet the needs and aspirations of all those who in various ways are vulnerable, but we are convinced that the current law, alongside the published policy for prosecutors, provides much greater protection for the vulnerable than would legislation based on this bill.”
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