An Analysis of Institutional Responsibility for Safeguarding ‎Fetal Health in Light of the Transition from Individualistic to Societal Ethics

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor and Director of the Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of ‎Medical Sciences; Head of the International Think Tank for Human Dignity; and Director of the ‎Bioethics and Health Law Research Institute (Corresponding Author).‎

2 Researcher at the Bioethics and Health Law Research Institute and Associate Member of the Iranian ‎Scientific Association of Children’s Rights.‎

10.22081/jti.2026.74800.1125

Abstract

Background and Objective: In recent decades, the evolution of ethical and legal perspectives related to fetal health has caused traditional, individual-centered approaches to give way to broader concepts such as collective ethics and institutional responsibility. While individual ethics focuses mainly on the duties of the mother or physician, collective ethics redistributes responsibility at the level of policymaking institutions, the health system, and social structures. The present study aims to elucidate the foundations, dimensions, and necessities of this transition and to examine its implications in determining the responsibility of institutions toward fetal health.
Method: This study was conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach based on library resources. By analyzing the literature of bioethics and the philosophy of responsibility, the fundamental principles of collective ethics and its position in maternal-fetal health policies were examined, and then the role of various institutions—ranging from the government and legislative bodies to the health system, research, and cultural centers—was analyzed in light of these principles.
Findings: The findings indicate that within the framework of collective ethics, fetal health is not merely the responsibility of a single individual (the mother or physician), but rather the result of a systematic interaction among institutional, social, economic, and cultural factors. Therefore, realizing the notion of collective ethics regarding fetal health necessitates coordination among institutions responsible for health, legislation, economy, education, and the media. This perspective emphasizes the necessity of fair policymaking, professional ethics training, cultural development, social support for pregnant mothers, and multi-level ethical oversight.
Conclusion: The transition from individual ethics to collective ethics in the realm of fetal health is a strategic necessity in contemporary ethics that can provide the foundation for formulating preventive, fair, humane, and community-interest-based policies. Institutions, especially within the health system, are obligated to move beyond purely individual ethical frameworks and recognize their collective responsibility in safeguarding the health and dignity of the fetus and mother.

Keywords

References

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