Medicine, Law, Ethics and Popular Culture: Vera Drake

Mike Leigh’s film depicts access to abortion in postwar London, juxtaposing the rich women who ‘get into trouble’ and visit friendly doctors on Harley Street who enquire solicitously about histories of suicide within the family, with working class women who can’t face another pregnancy and who seek out the services of Vera Drake, a char woman who ‘helps them out’ with her trusty carbolic soap. This is the hypocrisy of England before the Abortion Act, where safe abortion is available if you can afford it and less safe abortion is available if you know who to ask.

Following the film we will discuss the issues raised.

Discussant: Dr Mary Neal, University of Strathclyde.

THIS EVENT IS ONLY OPEN TO MEMBERS OF DURHAM UNIVERSITY. 

Please sign up to attend here: https://forms.office.com/e/CV6T9K8CPd