Nurses at Amadora-Sintra hospital in Portugal have formally submitted a declaration of refusal of responsibility, according to public broadcaster RTP. The move, reported on Friday, 21 August 2026, signals a collective protest over working conditions at the facility.
The declaration, delivered by the nursing staff, is a formal document that shifts legal accountability away from individual practitioners. RTP reports that the nurses handed over the statement, though the broadcaster did not provide further details on the specific grievances or the number of nurses involved.
The action comes amid ongoing concerns about staffing and workloads in Portuguese hospitals. A liability disclaimer of this kind is typically used by health professionals when they believe they cannot guarantee safe care due to resource shortages or systemic failures. By filing it, the nurses are publicly recording that they will not accept blame for outcomes that may result from conditions beyond their control.
RTP’s report does not specify how hospital management has responded or whether any immediate negotiations are planned. The development adds to a pattern of labour unrest in the country’s health sector, where staff have repeatedly warned about understaffing and burnout.
What to watch next is whether hospital administrators and regional health authorities open talks with the nurses, or if the declaration escalates into more formal industrial action.
