Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has shared that his terminally ill ex-wife felt forced to end her life alone in Switzerland earlier this year.
The 60-year-old musician has hit out at 'psychopathic' laws around assisted dying that mean those with terminal illnesses cannot legally request assistance in dying from others when making the 'brutal' choice to end their life. It comes ahead of the release of a new bill proposing changes to the law on assisted dying in England and Wales under strict controls.
Rowntree's ex-wife Paola Marra was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer and later decided to end her own life in Zurich, Switzerland. The pair wed in 1994 but divorced in the early 2000s, but after their split, Rowntree continued to support Paola after her diagnosis.
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Marra made the heartbreaking decision to fly out to Dignitas in Switzerland in March alone to end her own life, having faced several rounds of treatment and surgeries. The Canadian, who was allergic to painkillers, didn't want to suffer a probably painful and undignified death.
Rowntree has blasted the current laws related to assisted dying in the UK, claiming they're "psychopathic" and show "absolutely no empathy for the sufferer". His remarks come before November's bill proposing the legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales under strict controls.
Assisted dying is a divisive topic in the UK. Many, including stars like Dame Esther Rantzen - have urged the government to allow terminally ill adults to make the choice to end their life. Countries like New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia have permitted this, reports the Mirror.
But some fear assisted dying could be abused and put disabled and vulnerable people at risk. An alternative for those opposed to the bill is improved palliative care.
Rowntree said of the current laws around assisted dying: "It is the system washing its hands of difficult problems in a way that I can't stomach. That's the whole point of the state. The state can declare war ... And if the state isn't going to take these kind of difficult decisions, what the f**k is the point in having the state? This is psychopathic, where we are now, because the whole point of this [should be] to try to make things easier for the real victim in this – the terminally ill person."
Rowntree, who also lost his father to bowel cancer this year, told the Guardian how he initially tried to convince his ex-wife not to travel to Switzerland to die. He tried to persuade Marra to prepare for a comfortable death at home in London.
The drummer offered to travel to Switzerland with his ex-wife when she decided to go ahead with Dignitas, but couldn't as he might have been prosecuted under current UK laws for assisting suicide.
Marra changed her mind and asked Rowntree to fly over once she landed in Zurich. The musician told the Guardian how his ex told him "I don't know if I can do this on my own" and he immediately began searching for flights out there.
She then called him back to urge him not to come and she died alone the following morning. Before she died, Marra asked Rowntree to support a change to the law. He said: "I certainly wouldn't support any bill that allows anyone to kill anyone else," he explained.
He added how the current law made those wanting to take control of their passing amid a terminal diagnosis "a pariah".
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
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