Regulating AI in medical imaging and diagnostics in Bangladesh through ethical and legal doctrinal analysis

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming medical imaging by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility. In Bangladesh, where healthcare systems face infrastructural constraints and workforce shortages, AI presents both significant opportunities and complex ethical and legal challenges. This study adopts a doctrinal approach to examine the governance of AI in medical imaging, analyzing national legal instruments and advancing medico-legal areas, the Draft Bangladesh National AI Policy 2026–2030, and professional ethical codes in light of international frameworks such as WHO guidance, UNESCO recommendations, and the EU AI Act. The analysis moves beyond descriptive assessment to explore why regulatory gaps persist, identifying structural factors including limited regulatory capacity, fragmented legal frameworks, and reliance on externally developed technologies. Key challenges include inadequate data protection, weak informed consent mechanisms, unclear accountability in AI-assisted decisions, and inequitable access to digital health technologies. The study also highlights the limitations of existing professional ethics frameworks in addressing algorithmic decision-making. It proposes context-specific reforms, including comprehensive health data legislation, AI-specific ethical guidelines, and institutional oversight mechanisms. By linking ethical principles with practical governance, the study offers actionable insights for policymakers to support responsible and equitable AI integration in Bangladesh’s healthcare system.