Ethical Management of War-Time Crises: Emphasizing the  Role of Ethics Committees

Fahimeh Sadat  Havaeji; Zahra  Jafari; Arezoo  Noie

doi:10.18502/ijme.v18iS3.21912

Fahimeh Sadat Havaeji Department of Operating Room Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
Zahra Jafari Department of Anesthesiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom; Phd Student, Department of Nursing, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Arezoo Noie Department of Operating Room, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijme.v18iS3.21912

Keywords: Ethics committee, Crisis management, War, Ethical decision-making, Gaza war, Iran.

Abstract

contemporary armed conflicts, particularly in geopolitically sensitive regions, pose significant ethical challenges to public health and humanitarian systems amid advancements in military technology. Recent experiences, notably the Gaza war, illustrate that ethics committees lacking structural independence, transparency, and genuine commitment to human dignity may fail to protect civilian rights and risk becoming politicized entities. This letter to the editor underscores the critical need to strengthen the role of ethics committees in war crisis management by ensuring their structural independence, establishing transparent oversight frameworks, developing international guidelines for emerging military technologies, and fostering enhanced international cooperation. Strengthening these committees’ capacities can contribute to mitigating human suffering, facilitating sustainable post-war reconstruction, and rebuilding public trust