AI in Cardiac Imaging: A UK-Based Perspective on Addressing the Ethical, Social, and Political Challenges.

Matthew E. Fenech,Olly Buston

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2020.00054

Matthew E. Fenech, Olly Buston

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2020.00054

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Abstract

Imaging and cardiology are the healthcare domains which have seen the greatest number of FDA approvals for novel data-driven technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in recent years. The increasing use of such data-driven technologies in healthcare is presenting a series of important challenges to healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and patients. In this paper, we review ten ethical, social, and political challenges raised by these technologies. These range from relatively pragmatic concerns about data acquisition to potentially more abstract issues around how these technologies will impact the relationships between practitioners and their patients, and between healthcare providers themselves. We describe what is being done in the United Kingdom to identify the principles that should guide AI development for health applications, as well as more recent efforts to convert adherence to these principles into more practical policy. We also consider the approaches being taken by healthcare organizations and regulators in the European Union, the United States, and other countries. Finally, we discuss ways by which researchers and frontline clinicians, in cardiac imaging and more broadly, can ensure that these technologies are acceptable to their patients.

Highlights

Technological change is certainly not a new phenomenon. 3.3 million-year old stone tools made by Australopithecus, one of the earliest hominid species, have been found in Kenya [1], indicating that the drive to use tools to make tasks easier, and to improve quality of life, has not changed over the millions of years of humanity’s history
Future Advocacy, an independent think tank focused on policy development around the responsible use of emerging technology, conducted a series of interviews with expert clinicians, technologists, and ethicists, as well as focus groups with patients, and identified ten sets of questions that are raised by the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to the health setting (Table 1) [7]
For example, we found that 45% of respondents agreed that AI should be used to “help diagnose disease,” but only 17% agreed that it should be used to “take on other tasks performed by doctors and nurses,” such as breaking bad news; 63% said it should not be used for this purpose [7]

Summary

Introduction

Technological change is certainly not a new phenomenon. 3.3 million-year old stone tools made by Australopithecus, one of the earliest hominid species, have been found in Kenya [1], indicating that the drive to use tools to make tasks easier, and to improve quality of life, has not changed over the millions of years of humanity’s history. Future Advocacy, an independent think tank focused on policy development around the responsible use of emerging technology, conducted a series of interviews with expert clinicians, technologists, and ethicists, as well as focus groups with patients, and identified ten sets of questions that are raised by the application of AI to the health setting (Table 1) [7].

Results

Conclusion