Biolaw and coercive limits: analysis of palliative care regulations

Authors

Abstract

Bioethics regulations are essential for the development of palliative care in Brazil. This study aimed
to identify Brazilian regulations on palliative care and analyze their coercive limits. A qualitative and
quantitative documentary study was conducted from September 2024 to March 2025, involving searches
in government databases and repositories of federal university hospitals. The results showed the absence
of federal laws on palliative care. At the state level, only 16 states (59.2%) had legislation on this topic,
totaling 24 regulations (two with coercive limits). In hospitals, only 17 units (37.7%) had regulations
on palliative care, totaling 37 regulations (six with coercive actions). The joint analysis identified
64 regulations on this topic, with only nine (14%) containing coercive limits. A gap in federal legislation on
palliative care was found. Brazilian states and hospitals need to advance in the regulation of palliative care.
Finally, the scarcity of coercive regulatory actions raises uncertainties about their effectiveness.

Keywords:

Bioethics, Palliative care, Guidelines as topic

Author Biographies

Klinger Ricardo Dantas Pinto, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Klinger Ricardo Dantas Pinto – Mestre – klingerp@yahoo.com
0000-0003-0240-9080

Francisca Rego, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Francisca Rego – Doutora – mfrego@med.up.pt
0000-0001-8083-7895

Rui Nunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Rui Nunes – Doutor – ruinunes@med.up.pt
0000-0002-1377-9899

Vol. 33 (2025): Continued publication

Published:

2025-12-16

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-803420254004PT

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How to Cite

1.
Dantas Pinto KR, Rego F, Nunes R. Biolaw and coercive limits: analysis of palliative care regulations. Rev. Bioét. [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 16 [cited 2026 May 9];33. Available from: https://revistabioetica.cfm.org.br/revista_bioetica/article/view/4004

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