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| 31-October-2024 |
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has launched an attack on the UK law on assisted dying, after his terminally ill ex-wife was forced to travel to Dignitas in Switzerland, where she died alone.
Rowntree, 60, was married to Paola Marra in the Nineties. Before her death aged 53, which took place in Zurich in March, Marra had been suffering from terminal bowel cancer and was being supported by Rowntree.
In a new interview with The Guardian, the musician called the UK law on assisted dying “psychopathic” because it shows “absolutely no empathy for the sufferer”.
Assisted dying is criminalised in the UK, but there are growing calls for a change in the law. Next month, a bill will be published proposing legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales under strict regulations.
After several rounds of difficult treatment and surgeries, Marra – who was allergic to strong painkillers – decided she did not want to face a painful death.
Rowntree, whose father John also died of bowel cancer this year, accused the state of “washing its hands of difficult problems in a way that I can’t stomach”.
Continue reading @ Independent.
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ReplyDeleteThis should never be left to a family member. I wish all societies would adopt a compassionate approach to pain and suffering.
ReplyDeleteAnthony, what is the law on assisted dying in the Republic of Ireland and is there any substantive opposition to it? Any thoughts on the proposed assisted dying bill in Britain?
ReplyDeleteI am not making light or laughing at the subject of 'assisted dying' but the only solution I can come up with is for anyone who is terminally ill, to 'self-identify' as their favorite animal, and a Vet will intervene. ....They do this daily when someone brings their pet to be put down..
ReplyDeleteyou are making light of it but in a humourous way. We should be able to make light of all things rather than be silent at the command of the humour haters. I think it is a funny idea.
DeleteI used to be very pro euthanasia. But today I am totally against the idea. You can't put such powers in the hands of the state. Where there is life there is hope.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sound position to take providing it is for your own life but not for somebody else's. Think about it: those who oppose it for everybody else are saying I shall have no choice but they will choose for me.
DeleteWhy would I want to put that power in the hands of those people?
Bit like the anti-choice people on the abortion debate. There is always a choice that has to be made - it is who gets to make it that is crucial.
It is not about putting power in the hands of the state but into my own hands. At present that power is denied me by the state who make it illegal. I don't want the state having the power to deprive me of my ability to choose.
Jack Kevorkian - interesting characterr, an inpsirartion of sorts to many.
ReplyDeleteAl Pacino played him in a film, You Don't Know Jack - it is very good.
I believe people have the right to do what they want with their bodies providing it does not harm any one else. I am all for euthanasia but not in a capitalist society, I would not trust the agenda at heart, it is all being sold as progressive but there is no compassion there whatsoever from the governemnt. Where will they draw the line.
I was an admirer of Jack Kevorkian from jail - once writing a short poem about Janet Adkins while in the blocks.
DeleteSince then and having learned more about him I think there needed to be a lot more governance and guidelines around the procedure.
You place yourself in a position of allowing a capitalist state to deny you the right to make a choice; that rights which would be enshrined in a non capitalist society should not be given in a capitalist society.
Why give the very state you are opposed to the choice instead of exercising it yourself? Like in the case of abortion, somebody always chooses - who should it be?