A Growing Role with Ethical Considerations and Challenges

A Growing Role with Ethical Considerations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly playing a crucial role in medical diagnosis, with new models tailored to pediatrics, rare diseases, and specialized fields emerging in recent years. However, experts caution that AI cannot replace doctors and ethical challenges must be addressed as its use expands.

Hospitals like Aerospace Center Hospital in Beijing have been using AI since 2018 to interpret medical images. AI has significantly improved accuracy and speed in tasks like detecting pulmonary nodules and interpreting CT angiograms. This has led to faster diagnoses and increased patient capacity.

Peking Union Medical College has developed an AI platform that aggregates rare disease information and genetic data from the Chinese population. This platform aims to assist doctors in diagnosing rare diseases more accurately and rapidly, reducing disparities in diagnosis nationwide.

Beijing Children's Hospital has implemented an AI-driven tool that consolidates the expertise of pediatricians and decades of medical records. This tool has proven effective in complex cases, reaching conclusions similar to the joint diagnosis of multiple specialists. The hospital plans to roll out AI-powered pediatric platforms for families and communities to improve pediatric care at the grassroots level.

While AI offers significant benefits, experts emphasize that it cannot function independently. Doctors remain indispensable in integrating AI insights with their clinical expertise and providing comprehensive patient care. Additionally, the integration of AI has sometimes led to patients using AI-generated results to challenge or blame doctors for discrepancies in diagnoses. This highlights the need to raise awareness about the irreplaceable role of doctors, ensure compassionate care during consultations, and strengthen regulations governing the use of AI in healthcare.