Natasha Abrahart: Court to rule on university duty of care to students

  • Published
Maggie and Bob Abrahart with a picture of their daughterImage source, BBC/ Hazel Shearing
Image caption,
Natasha Abrahart's parents have been campaigning since their daughter's death

The High Court is expected to rule on whether universities owe a duty of care to students.

Lawyers acting for the parents of 20-year-old Natasha Abrahart, who took her own life while studying at the University of Bristol (UoB), told a hearing there should be.

But UoB said no such duty existed.

A judge was asked whether "reasonable steps" should be taken to stop students coming to harm and if universities had a duty to not cause harm.

A ruling is expected to be handed down later, following a three-day hearing in Bristol in December.

If you've been affected by the issues raised in this report, the BBC Action Line has a list of organisations that may be able to help.

The judge was asked to provide clarity on where universities' limitations lie, and how responsible they ought to be for their students - the majority of whom are young adults living away from their family homes for the first time.

Ms Abrahart, from Nottinghamshire, had social anxiety and had been due to give a presentation in a large lecture theatre on the day she died in 2018.

In 2022, Judge Alex Ralton ruled UoB had failed to make reasonable adjustments for Ms Abrahart - a decision against which the university is appealing.

The judge also said it was not clear the university owed Ms Abrahart a duty of care.

Image caption,
Ms Abrahart was due to give a presentation on the day she died

He said there was "no statute or precedent which establishes the existence of such a duty of care owed by a university to a student".

Her parents appealed against that decision.

UoB said it was "deeply sorry" for the Abraharts' loss and stressed Ms Abrahart was offered alternative options to giving a presentation.

Related Topics

Related Internet Links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.