AI in healthcare: ethical issues

In their recent opinion piece in De Telegraaf, three researchers from Amsterdam UMC highlight how artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to dramatically change healthcare. The researchers focus on the ethical and legal issues arising from the use of AI in medical procedures. They discuss the role of predictive machine learning (ML) models, which, for example, can help predict complications after medical interventions.

These models offer significant benefits, such as improving patient safety and reducing healthcare costs through personalized care. At the same time, the use of such advanced AI systems requires a careful assessment of the risks. Under the current European Medical Device Regulation (MDR), these AI systems must be thoroughly evaluated before they can be used.

The upcoming European AI Act will impose stricter requirements on high-risk AI applications, especially in healthcare. This legislation requires extensive risk assessments, data management, and continuous monitoring of AI systems.

The researchers emphasize that, although regulations exist, critical ethical questions remain unanswered. Questions such as the impact of AI on medical decision-making and the responsibility for the outcomes of AI-supported treatments need to be addressed. This requires a broad discussion on how we want to integrate AI into healthcare in an ethically responsible manner, with a strong focus on transparency, accountability, and patient consent.