POTENTIALITIES AND LIMITS OF THE CLINICAL ETHICS COMMITTEE AND NURSE PARTICIPATION: REFLECTIONS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: to reflect on the importance of the participation of nurses in the Clinical Ethics Committee in Brazil and the knowledge required for this performance. Method: reflection based on experience of a postdoctoral internship carried out within the Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and History of Science of the School of Medicine of Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. Results: the Clinical Ethics Committee contributes to the improvement of health care provided by professionals and health institutions. The nurses are key participants, not only because they are professionals involved in the clinical practice, committed to the decision-making and the patient's performance, but also because they vision is necessary and irreplaceable in an environment of deliberation in which different perspectives and approximations for prudent resolution of ethical conflicts. Conclusion: if the nurses want to assume a strategic position, positively influencing the quality of care provided, protecting interests and ensuring the well-being of the users, they should assume as an urgent basis the need to develop the skills required to deal with ethical problems in the day-to-day of their care practice, accepting the responsibility to participate in the Clinical Ethics Committees, promoting their creation and inserting themselves into their activities.