The Legal and Ethical Challenges of Using Generative AI in Healthcare Explored in WCM-Q’s Intersection of Law & Medicine Webinar
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) recently hosted a webinar discussing the legal and ethical challenges of using generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The event, titled Automated Healthcare: ChatGPT, Bing, Bard & the Law of Generative AI, examined the risks involved, the limitations of current laws, and the available tools for healthcare professionals. Coordinated by WCM-Q and in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Law, the webinar aimed to provide insight into the use of generative AI in healthcare and its implications.
The webinar featured a panel of expert speakers from various backgrounds, including Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and vice dean for academic and curricular affairs at WCM-Q, and Dr. Barry Solaiman, assistant professor of law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Law. Other speakers included professionals from LinkedIn, Penn State Dickinson Law, University of Houston, Harvard Law School, and WCM-Q’s AI Center for Precision Health.
Generative AI systems offer a range of applications in healthcare, such as clinical decision support, medical recordkeeping, patient triage, and drug discovery. However, the panel discussed the legal and ethical challenges associated with their use. One key issue is the potential change in how virtual assistants interact with patients. Additionally, there is currently no overarching legislative framework governing the use of generative AI in healthcare.
Dr. Solaiman highlighted the importance of establishing guidelines during the development stage of generative AI systems to prevent biases in the data used for training. As hospitals consider implementing these systems, questions arise about ownership of generated information and the responsibility in case of errors.
During the webinar, Dr. Faisal Farooq discussed the uses and risks of generative AI, including privacy, trust, safety, interpretability, bias, misuse, and over-reliance risks. Dr. Roberts focused on the topic of biased chatbots and health disparities, exploring the associated risks and the legal protection surrounding data biases in healthcare.
The experts agreed that while generative AI applications have the potential to transform healthcare practice, they cannot replace the role of physicians or healthcare practitioners.
Dr. Arayssi expressed her gratitude to the experts for sharing their knowledge, emphasizing the importance of the discussion in providing healthcare professionals with insights into generative AI applications and their unintended consequences.
The webinar was accredited by the Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) of Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and internationally by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
This webinar sheds light on the legal and ethical challenges surrounding the use of generative AI in healthcare. By exploring the risks and limitations, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions on the use of these tools in their practice. Although generative AI offers numerous benefits, it is crucial to address the legal and ethical implications to ensure responsible and effective implementation in the healthcare sector.
