Barroso grants nurses authorization to perform legal abortions

Minister Luís Roberto Barroso from the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) has decided, through a precautionary measure, to expand the range of health professionals authorized to perform pregnancy terminations in cases stipulated by Brazilian legislation — such as pregnancies resulting from rape, risk of maternal death, or anencephalic fetus. The decision recognizes that limiting the procedure exclusively to medical doctors contributes to ‘assistance vacuum’ and violates the fundamental rights of girls and women who are victims of sexual violence. The measure allows nurses and nursing technicians to assist in legal abortions, especially when the procedure is medication-induced and performed during the early stages of pregnancy, provided that it falls within their professional competencies. Barroso also suspended judicial and administrative processes punishing these professionals for their involvement in such cases.