Natasha Abrahart killed herself on the day she was due to give a presentation at universityA university's appeal against a judgement that it contributed to the death of a student by discriminating against her has been rejected.
"At Bristol, we care profoundly for all our students and their mental health and wellbeing is a priority and is at the heart of everything we do." Dr Abrahart brought legal action against the university alleging it had contributed to his daughter's death by discriminating against her on the grounds of disability.The judge who handed down today's ruling has been considering an issue that calls into question the very purpose of universities: whether or not they have what is called a "duty of care" towards their students.
But what it would like in practice is not clear, and some campaigners have told the BBC that it feels too theoretical to support. Lawyers for the university added the institution had acted reasonably "given the importance of maintaining academic standards, and fairness to other students". "It is now for the University of Bristol, and higher education institutions across the country, to get their houses in order."Gus Silverman, a solicitor representing the family, said: "So far as we are aware this is the first time the High Court has considered arguments that disability discrimination has contributed to a person's death.
Standing outside the Bristol Civil Justice Centre, Ms Abrahart's mother, Maggie, delivered a statement addressed to the vice chancellor of the university."We want you to think how you would wish your son or daughter to be treated at university if they were disabled and needed their rights protecting."