University of Insubria develops Italy’s first competency framework for Clinical Ethics Consultants

The University of Insubria has developed Italy’s first competency framework for Clinical Ethics Consultants, a tool that systematically defines the skills and competencies required to work within Clinical Ethics Consultation Services.

The study was conducted by Francesca Reato, principal investigator of the project, under the supervision of Mario Picozzi, within the framework of the PhD Programme in Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Medical Humanities, initially coordinated by Marco Cosentino and currently by Alessandro Squizzato.

Francesca Reato is employed by ASST Sette Laghi, where she works as a nurse within the Corporate Directorate of Health and Social Care Professions. She also serves as Director of Professional Training Activities for the Nursing Degree Programme at the University of Insubria in Varese. Mario Picozzi is Associate Professor of Bioethics and Forensic Medicine in the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Director of the University’s Clinical Ethics Research Centre (CREC), and President of the Interdisciplinary Group on Clinical Bioethics and Ethics Consultation in Healthcare (GIBCE).

The research, approved by the University of Insubria Research Ethics Committee and the PhD Faculty Board, stems from the growing complexity of healthcare, which increasingly places healthcare professionals, patients, and families in situations marked by ethical uncertainty and conflict.

Clinical ethics consultation supports the analysis and management of value-laden issues arising during patient care and can be requested by healthcare professionals, patients, family members, or caregivers when particularly complex decisions must be addressed. The Clinical Ethics Consultant facilitates dialogue among stakeholders, helps clarify the values involved, and supports transparent, well-reasoned, and shared decision-making processes.

Among the issues most frequently addressed are end-of-life decisions, the proportionality of care, informed consent, conflicts between healthcare professionals and family members, and challenges related to the fair allocation of healthcare resources.

The framework was developed in accordance with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Italian National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Its purpose is to contribute to the definition of shared standards, support the professionalization of Clinical Ethics Consultants, and promote the path toward formal public recognition of the qualification.

The work was presented to the international scientific community at the 20th International Conference on Clinical Ethics and Consultation, the leading global event dedicated to clinical ethics consultation, held in Cleveland, Ohio (USA), from 10 to 13 June 2026.

On 11 June, Francesca Reato and Mario Picozzi presented the paper entitled “Constructing a Repertoire of Technical-Professional and Transversal Competencies for Clinical Ethics Consultants According to the European and Italian Qualifications Frameworks”, introducing an innovative model for the qualification of Clinical Ethics Consultants and engaging in discussion with scholars and practitioners from different international contexts.

Through this project, the University of Insubria contributes to the advancement of clinical ethics consultation in Italy by promoting the integration of research, education, and clinical practice, while supporting the development of quality standards for professionals involved in healthcare decision-making processes.