Ethical Challenges of Using AI in the Healthcare System

Over the past few years, AI has been incorporated into the medical sector due to the digitalization of medical records, health information exchange, and unprecedented improvement in computer power. AI has been extensively applied in clinical practice for various purposes like diagnostics,imaging, tailored drug discovery, oncology, cardiology, and neurology. 40 AI-based clinical devices have been approved by FDA. For example, IDx-DR is an AI diagnostic system that receives the image of the retina. It decides either on rescreening after 12 months or referral to an eye specialist to detect diabetic retinopathy. Ada is a European health application that takes the person’s symptoms and gives recommendations (visit a physician, rest at home, need emergency care).

The application of AI in the medical sector can revolutionize it for the better. However, there are some risks associated with it. This essay investigates three ethical implications of using Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare system, discusses the existing laws, and proposes solutions.