Modern Jurisprudence and Law

Modern Jurisprudence and Law

The role of modern health laws in promoting the professional behavior of maternal and child nurses

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Ashraf Beyrami
Faculty Member, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas Branch
10.22034/jml.2022.732086
Abstract
In recent decades, the concept of Modern Health Law has emerged as one of the fundamental pillars of human-centered healthcare. Nurses working in maternal and child care units are frequently confronted with complex ethical and clinical dilemmas—particularly those involving the rights of the mother, the protection of the fetus, and the principles of informed consent and safe care. This study aims to explain the role of modern health law in improving the professional behavior of nurses in obstetric and neonatal departments using a descriptive–analytical approach.
Findings revealed a significant relationship between nurses’ awareness of modern health law components—such as patient autonomy, justice in care delivery, and medical confidentiality—and their level of professional conduct. Statistical analysis indicated a positive correlation between legal awareness, ethical responsiveness, and the quality of nurse–mother interactions (r = 0.61). However, the absence of unified legal training programs within academic and clinical structures was found to be the main barrier to professional development.
Modern health law not only provides a legal framework for clinical decision-making but also serves as a moral foundation that strengthens the internalization of human dignity values in nursing practice. Integrating legal–ethical education and developing standardized legal protocols for maternal and child health can enhance nurses’ professional security and mothers’ trust in the healthcare system.
 
Keywords
Modern Health Law
Professional Behavior
Nurses
Maternal and Child Care
Nursing Ethics

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