AI Ethical Gap Analysis in Medical Practices Using Deductive Thematic Analysis

This study investigates ethical compliance in AI applications within the healthcare sector, focusing on alignment with established ethical frameworks from government and nongovernment organizations. Utilizing Deductive Thematic Analysis (DTA), this work analyzes publicly available documents from prominent AI healthcare companies to assess the adherence to key ethical themes: privacy, transparency, fairness, accountability, and patient autonomy. The study introduces the Thematic Completeness Index (TCI), quantifying both the coverage and the depth of the theme. The findings indicate that while themes like fairness and privacy are moderately represented, their depth remains limited, suggesting a need for more thorough ethical practices. Diagnostics and imaging companies exhibited higher compliance than those in drug discovery. The results underscore the importance of adaptive regulatory frameworks and multistakeholder collaboration to bridge ethical gaps, ensuring that AI-driven healthcare remains responsible and equitable.