Britpop star speaks out after terminally ill ex-wife was forced to end life alone due to 'psychopathic' laws
Dave Rowntree - the legendary drummer from Britpop band Blur - has spoken out against controversial legislation which prohibited his terminally ill wife from reaching out for help when she made the decision to end her own life earlier this year.
The musician's late partner Paola Marra died in Switzerland in March as part of the Dignitas programme.
The Britpop star's wife, was in the midst of a heartbreaking battle with terminal bowel cancer.
Advert
The duo had tied the knot back in 1994, but split in the early noughties - after which Rowntree went on to date film score composer Michelle de Vries.
Despite having parted ways decades earlier, Rowntree has revealed this week that not only that Marra did not succumb to the vicious disease, and instead made the decision to end her life on her own times, but that she'd sought her ex-husband's help to make the arrangements.
And though he'd found it difficult, he agreed to help in making her final wish come true, claiming he was one of the only individuals in her life to agree with her decision.
Marra flew to Zurich following numerous rounds of treatments and surgeries aimed at prolonging her life.
Sadly, however, her pain was exasperated by the fact that she was also allergic to the painkillers she'd been prescribed, and her decision was finalised.
Despite Rowntree offering to travel to Switzerland with Marra, he wasn't able to, under strict UK laws on assisted dying.
And now - just six months after his former partner's passing - he has branded the existing laws which prohibited her from legally requesting assistance with her decision, 'psychopathic'.
"It is the system washing its hands of difficult problems in a way that I can’t stomach," he recently explained in an emotional intevriew.
"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."
He went on to explain that his ex-wife had previously expressed her hesitation once she'd arrived into Switzerland, and though he immediately began researching flights to be with her, she made the decision to die alone the following day.
The artist's remarks come just weeks prior to the introduction of new bill, which will place assisted dying for English and Welsh citizens under tighter control.
Assisted dying - or euthanasia - is currently illegal in the UK, though those suffering with a terminal illness wishing to end their own lives can travel to Switzerland, New Zealand, or Australia to do so.
And anyone found aiding someone in their decision could be jailed for up to 14 years.
This hasn't stopped people from seeking out treatment, as Suffolk-based couple has previously been reported as wanting to travel to Switzerland to use the controversial Sarco death capsules together, and become the first Brits to use these 'suicide pods'.
Speaking on the current legislation, Rowntree said: "It’s utterly brutal for the ill person because anyone they tell is potentially at risk of arrest.
"So they have to creep around like a criminal."
With the debate widening in recent months, however, many MPs have voiced their opposition to the act.
It is feared that the new law could see disabled and vulnerable members of society put at risk, with opposers believing that improved palliative care should serve as an alternative.
Rhianna Benson