Ethics, society and occupational reproductive hazards: fetal consequences?

Occupational exposures to agents such as lead can adversely affect fetal outcome. With the US Supreme Court decision in the Johnson Controls case regarding the legality of employer's fetal protection policies, increasing responsibility lies with women to make decisions regarding exposure to potentially hazardous agents in the workplace. What are some of the ethical issues that society needs to address with respect to this responsibility? This paper considers the ethical principles of respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and self interest from the perspectives of the potential mother and those concerned with protecting the fetus. Since the fetus cannot make decisions, the potential role of society in protecting fetal rights in the context of workplace exposures is explored.