Ethical Issues Of Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare

The role of artificial intelligence in healthcare is fast becoming prominent. However, ethical issues such as data privacy, data handling, biases, patient confidentiality, and more have raised concerns about the reliability of AI in healthcare. 

Over the past decade, AI and technology (machine learning) have helped to provide new insights into clinical cases and drug discovery. With AI, health workers, particularly nurses, are more well-rested and overburdened with problems machines can solve. This is a massive breakthrough for the healthcare sector. 

In this article, we will discuss some of these ethical issues.

• Data handling and Security 
• Drug development 
• Biases 

1. Data handling and Security

In healthcare, medical personnel use electronic records or data collected from patients can be used for scientific purposes such as clinical and academic research to improve healthcare quality. However, there are risks of these data being hacked by cybercriminals and third parties. 

This ethical issue leads to a break in patient-doctor confidentiality. In some scenarios, sensitive data has been sold to unprofessional sources.

2. Drug Development 

In drug development, artificial intelligence helps in drug development, which used to be strictly human-led. Data generated from patients can be used to develop specific drugs and models that are gene, organ, and tissue specific depending on the needs of individual patients. 

However, concerns are being raised about the current regulatory laws and whether there is a need to implement more rules to allow data privacy, especially in drug development. This is to protect the patient’s privacy. 

3. Biases 

AI biases are another ethical issue that threatens the growth of AI in the health system. These biases are anomalies that arise when human designers unknowingly introduce them to the AI model during creation. Another instance of bias occurs during incomplete data collection. Although these biases are not intentional, they can lead to differential treatment, improper diagnosis, and less effective treatment.

Conclusion 

In conjunction with policymakers, the government at all levels needs to work together to ensure that ethical issues, such as data privacy, the safety of patient information, and informed consent, are tackled promptly to have a beautiful working system.

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Chinyere Nwokike

Chinyere is a general content writer passionate about writing on any topic from tech, health, agriculture and everything in between. She loves learning new things and shares what she’s learned through writing. She is currently an intern at The Ready Writers.

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