Legal and Ethical Responsibility of Nurses in Clinical Decision‑Making Related to Maternal and Fetal Health.This study aims to examine the legal and professional ethical dimensions of nurses’ responsibility in clinical decision‑making concerning maternal and fetal health within modern care systems. Clinical decisions during pregnancy and childbirth are among the most sensitive aspects of medical care, as nurses often face conflicts between preserving fetal life and respecting maternal autonomy. The research follows a descriptive‑analytical method based on scientific literature, health law regulations, and patient rights charters.
Findings indicate that nurses encounter significant ethical and legal complexities when dealing with situations such as informed consent, emergency interventions, risk assessment for mother or fetus, and confidentiality of medical information. According to prior studies, 78% of nurses describe ethical decision‑making in obstetric emergencies as challenging, and only 45% are fully familiar with the legal aspects of clinical judgment (Taghinejad et al., 2020). From an ethical standpoint, adherence to the principles of beneficence, justice, autonomy, and non‑maleficence defines appropriate nursing behavior (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019). Legally, nurses are entrusted with safeguarding maternal dignity, protecting fetal health, and being accountable for clinical decisions in accordance with health law and patients’ rights charters (Ministry of Health, 2019).
The study concludes that strengthening nurses’ ethical‑legal decision‑making capacities through continuous education, clear clinical guidelines, and establishment of ethics committees in maternity centers is essential. Such measures can reduce clinical conflicts, ensure the protection of maternal and fetal rights, and promote holistic, human‑centered care quality.