The family of a student who committed suicide at the University of Bristol have expressed their determination to continue campaigning for a law that enshrines a statutory duty of care in higher education. 20-year-old Natasha Abrahart, who suffered from severe social anxiety disorder, took her own life on the day she was due to give a group presentation at the university in April 2018. Following a High Court ruling which found that the university had not provided reasonable adjustments for Ms Abrahart, the university sought to appeal a judgement that it had contributed to her death by discriminating against her, but its appeal was rejected on 23 November.
The Abrahart family has been campaigning for the introduction of a statutory duty of care for all universities. If implemented, such a measure would oblige universities to exercise reasonable care and skill to prevent harm to their students. A petition calling for its enactment attained 128,000 signatures before closing recently. Maggie and Robert Abrahart, Natasha’s parents, see the introduction of a statutory duty of care as necessary to ensure that everyone is protected. In their campaign, they have been working with the charity Inquest, which supports families of those who have died after contact with the state.
During a five-day trial held last March, the Bristol County Court found that the university had contravened its responsibilities towards Ms Abrahart under the Equality Act by failing to provide adjustments that took account of her debilitating anxiety. Although a judge ruled that the university had acted negligently, he declined to opine as to whether universities have a responsibility to their students, stating that it was “not necessary” to give judgement on that issue. The judge ordered the university to pay £50,500 in damages, rejecting the Abrahart family’s claim that the university had been negligent in its treatment of Natasha.
Following the verdict, the university issued a statement expressing its profound regret at Ms Abrahart’s death and its commitment to ensuring that the wellbeing of its students is an organisational priority. Natasha’s family, however, have vowed to pursue their campaign for a statutory duty of care to ensure that other families do not suffer the pain that they have had to endure
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