The Abbey debate: Assisted dying

Students from UIV to UVI saw two speakers debate the challenging and sensitive issue of doctor-assisted dying, as a part of their Ethics studies and run by the Philosophy of Religion department and Debating Society. We welcomed two very well informed and intelligent speakers, Mark Bhagwandin from the pro-life charity LIFE, and Liz Nichols representing the pro-choice position. Girls from all year groups challenged and stimulated our thinking with a variety of questions from the floor, and the house was narrowly split, voting 13 votes to 12 to oppose the motion, with eight abstentions.

Mark Bhagwandin spoke later that week on Radio 4's Moral Maze programme which looked at the ethical situation surrounding abortion in the light of recent allegations that abortion is being offered to women on the basis of foetus gender.