Blur star's terminally ill ex-wife forced to travel to Dignitas alone to end own life

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has criticised 'psychopathic' laws on assisted death as he revealed for the first time that his terminally ill ex-wife felt compelled to end her life alone in Switzerland earlier this year.

The 60 year old voiced his frustration over existing laws that present some people with terminal illnesses with the 'brutal' choice of wanting to end their lives, but being unable to legally request assistance from others.

His remarks come just weeks before a new bill proposing changes to the law on assisted dying in England and Wales under strict controls is due to be published.

In March, Irish parliamentarians recommended that the Government allow assisted dying for people with incurable diseases and just six months to live. It is unlikely the Government will enact the recommendation before the upcoming general election.

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Rowntree married Paola Marra in 1994 but the pair divorced in the early 2000s. Despite splitting, Rowntree was one of the people to support his ex-wife after she was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer and later made the decision to end her own life in Zurich, Switzerland.

Marra, a Canadian, opted to fly out alone in March this year after facing several rounds of arduous treatment and surgeries. Knowing her cancer was terminal, she didn't want to face a probably painful and undignified death. Her pain was made worse due to the fact she was allergic to painful painkillers.

Speaking six months on from his ex-wife's death at Dignitas in Switzerland, Rowntree used the word 'psychopathic' to describe the current laws related to assisted dying in the UK that he claims show "absolutely no empathy for the sufferer". His comments come in the run-up to November's a bill proposing legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales under strict controls.

The topic of assisted dying is one that divides opinion in the UK. Many members of the public - and celebrities like Dame Esther Rantzen - want the government to follow in the footsteps of the likes of New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia and allow terminally ill adults to end their life on their own terms.

However, many - and UK several MPs - have raised concerns over assisted dying, with fears a new law could be abused and put some disabled and vulnerable people at risk. Improved palliative care is one alternative those opposed to the bill are pushing as the complex issue is debated ahead of next month's bill.

Speaking in an emotional interview, Rowntree said of the current legality surrounding 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."

The drummer, who also lost his father to bowel cancer this year, went on to tell 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. When she decided to go ahead with Dignitas, Rowntree offered to travel to Switzerland with his ex-wife but couldn't due to the possibility he could for assisting suicide under current UK laws.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article please contact:

• Samaritans helpline 116 123
• Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48
• Pieta House on 1800 247 247

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