Key points:
- The American Medical Association (AMA) is concerned about potential liabilities and regulations relating to the development and deployment of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
- The AMA has laid out principles addressing its concerns and offering insights on who should be held liable in cases of AI errors or malfunctions in the health sector.
The American Medical Association (AMA), while recognizing the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, has expressed concerns about potential liabilities and regulations associated with this technology. Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, president of the AMA, voiced these concerns at the HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum, speaking on the development and deployment of AI in healthcare.
Specific areas of concern for the AMA include who would be held accountable in the event of AI errors or malfunctions. The organization has advocated for AI to “augment” human decision-making, rather than replace it, emphasizing the need for transparency and effective AI design. The AMA’s principles reflect an interest in ensuring the safety and efficacy of AI applications in healthcare, as well as the importance of physicians’ involvement in its development and implementation.
The AMA maintains that AI should be designed to improve patient outcomes and enhance the delivery of care while preserving the patient-physician relationship. This involves considering the ethical, legal, and social implications surrounding AI’s adoption and how these technologies may affect patients, especially those in vulnerable populations.
In addition to potential AI liabilities, the AMA is also monitoring the implementation of AI in clinical trials and research across the healthcare sector. Its guidelines underscore the importance of transparent and responsible data management in these areas to ensure patient safety and data privacy.
As AI continues to evolve and become even more integrated into the healthcare landscape, the AMA’s views and guidelines will provide important considerations for physicians, developers, and policymakers alike to keep in mind.