From a practical perspective, decision-making authority is exercised daily in professional practice, particularly in situations involving clinical assessment, prioritization of care, risk management, and the reasoned refusal of interventions that violate ethical or legal principles, among others. One notable example is conscientious objection. However, conscientious objection is not an absolute right. Its exercise must comply with criteria of proportionality and professional responsibility.
Amid the complexities underlying professional autonomy, the duty of care, and freedom of conscience, nurses are required to exercise careful judgment in light of ethical and professional standards. Decision-making power in nursing is therefore not limited to the technical application of protocols; rather, it entails disciplinary applicability, ethical discernment, legal responsibility, and institutional commitment.
It is under this framework that Ana Rita Cavaco, President of the Jurisdictional Council of the Ordem dos Enfermeiros, and Tiago Soares, lawyer, will focus their contributions at the upcoming session of the Católica Nursing Talks, entitled “Deontology in Nursing: Practical Issues in the Scope of Decision-Making Authority.”
The session will be moderated by Sofia Nunes, faculty member at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
The session is free of charge, but registration is required.
19/03/2026 | 6:00 pm | Online via Zoom
Note: The webinar attendance certificate will only be issued if the participant remains online for a period equal to or greater than 80% of the total session duration.
Register here
