The healthcare sector is one of the latest to embrace the technological advancements of artificial intelligence, or AI. This unlocks many opportunities for improved patient care, quick and accurate diagnoses and personalised treatments.
However, as with all technology, there are some ethical and legal issues that need to be addressed carefully before implementation. This includes patient privacy, biases and equality in terms of access and functionality.
Healthcare, big data analytics – associative photo. Image credit: CDC
Why data privacy and security in AI can be a problem
In the global sphere, Oxford University has ranked the UK’s readiness for AI second which is above other powerhouses such as the USA.
However, there are still some concerns. The main issue is patient safety and privacy. A poorly designed software program could leave private data vulnerable and exposed. To program the AI software, vast amounts of data are used. There have been examples of data being identifiable when data protection law has not been followed correctly. AI has not yet been proven to be impenetrable, so it is still possible that it will fall victim to cybersecurity attacks, leaving patient data to fall into the wrong hands.
There is also the issue of AI being used for diagnostic purposes. Poorly designed systems have been shown to make mistakes in simulated emergency situations. For example, AI failed to spot classic signs of a simulated heart attack as well as child sexual abuse, which resulted in an incorrect diagnosis. If this was a real-life situation, it could lead to a great deal of unnecessary patient harm. The alternative, though, is an overprogrammed system which overdiagnoses which could lead to unneeded healthcare interventions and treatments.
How to address the challenges of AI in healthcare
There are several ways to address the challenges of using AI in the healthcare system.
Testing
As with all technology, AI will only improve with continuous testing and improvement. With every test that is performed on different data sets, whether it is symptom data or confidential information, programmers and AI specialists are able to fine-tune the algorithm which will lead to better performances.
Invest in privacy-enhancing technology
AI can only do so much in the present day, therefore it can be combined with other technology which complements it. Healthcare providers should invest in robust firewall systems, as well as encryption software. When working in conjunction with your AI software, you can be sure that any data is better protected.
Seek expert legal advice
The technology sector is a vast industry, so there will be areas which you are less confident about. Having a team of experts in the field on hand to support you will keep everything above board and ticking over smoothly.