AI in HealthIT: Social and Ethical Considerations

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Health IT is transforming patient care, decision-making, and medical research. However, these advances raise critical social and ethical issues. This paper will explore some of the impacts of AI-driven health technologies on privacy, data protection, and the freedom of access to medical information by highlighting tensions between innovation and individual rights. We examine shifts in the balance of power, as AI systems increasingly mediate interactions between patients, healthcare providers, and institutions, and potentially reinforce inequalities in access to care. We will consider the broader effects of AI adoption in both public and private healthcare organisations, addressing issues such as accountability, transparency, and bias. The paper will outline the need to educate both the public and health IT professionals about the societal implications of AI, ensuring that technological advances align with ethical principles and public trust. Overall, we will reflect on strategies for responsible AI deployment that uphold human rights and equitable healthcare outcomes, aligning the work with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3 for good health and well-being and where we are in terms of achieving this goal. The talk will provide examples from the United Kingdom, Nigeria and elsewhere of the sorts of practical approaches that illustrate good practice.