Ethical Dimensions of Using Artificial Intelligence in Health Care

Abstract

An artificially intelligent computer program can now diagnose skin cancer more accurately than a board-certified dermatologist. 1 Better yet, the program can do it faster and more efficiently, requiring a training data set rather than a decade of expensive and labor-intensive medical education. While it might appear that it is only a matter of time before physicians are rendered obsolete by this type of technology, a closer look at the role this technology can play in the delivery of health care is warranted to appreciate its current strengths, limitations, and ethical complexities.Artificial intelligence (AI), which includes the fields of machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics, can be applied to almost any field in medicine, 2 and its potential contributions to biomedical research, medical education, and delivery of health care seem limitless. With its robust ability to integrate and learn from large sets of clinical data, AI can serve roles in diagnosis, 3 clinical decision making, 4 and personalized medicine. 5 For example, AI-based diagnostic algorithms applied to mammograms are assisting in the detection of breast cancer, serving as a "second opinion" for radiologists. 6 In addition, advanced virtual human avatars are capable of engaging in meaningful conversations, which has implications for the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disease. 7 AI applications also extend into the physical realm with robotic prostheses, physical task support systems, and mobile manipulators assisting in the delivery of telemedicine. 8

German medical students´ views regarding artificial intelligence in medicine: A cross-sectional survey

“…Students also strongly agreed that the judgement of the physician should be followed in cases of conflict with AI algorithms, that patients are always informed when AI algorithms are used, and that physicians and patients should have a choice whether AI in used. These views fit nicely with current discourse on the dangers of AI confusing responsibility and undermining patients´and physicians' ability to make autonomous informed decisions about treatment [16][17][18][19][20][21]45]. Authorities are still grappling with how to regulate and govern AI technology, and there remains limited legal rules and oversight.…”

Chatbot for Health Care and Oncology Applications Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Systematic Review

“…Each of these concerns is addressed below. Although efforts have been made to address these concerns, current guidelines and policies are still far behind the rapid technological advances [ 94 ].…”

Artificial Intelligence in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Rare Diseases: From Real-World Data Toward a Personalized Medicine Approach

“…However, performance varies by disease complexity, data quality, and workflow integration. Ethical and implementation challenges, including transparency, bias, regulatory uncertainty, and clinician adoption, remain central issues that require attention to ensure equitable and trustworthy use [ 41 , 53 , 54 ].…”

“…While AI holds significant potential to reduce diagnostic delays and enable more personalized care for children with rare conditions, its impact ultimately depends on multidisciplinary collaboration, rigorous validation, and robust governance frameworks aligned with clinical realities [ 54 ].…”