The American Medical Association (AMA) has approved a set of principles to provide guidance to the medical industry and government agencies on the development of a regulatory framework for health care augmented intelligence (AI). This new initiative aims to balance the potential benefits of AI in healthcare with ethical considerations and possible risks.
The AMA, as outlined in a recent press release, is taking significant steps towards comprehensive AI oversight. According to an AMA press release issued on Nov. 28, the association is committed to supporting nationwide oversight and governance policies to mitigate current and emerging risks associated with AI.
There is indeed an acknowledgment within the organization about both sides of the coin when it comes to AI use in healthcare. "The AMA recognizes the immense potential of health care AI in enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment outcomes, and patient care. However, this transformative power comes with ethical considerations and potential risks that demand a proactive and principled approach to the oversight and governance of health care AI," AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, said in the press release.
With these considerations in mind, specific areas for regulation have been identified by the AMA. According to the AMA press release, the principles cover oversight, transparency, disclosure and documentation, generative AI, privacy and security, bias mitigation and liability.
A closer look at these principles reveals a broader vision encompassing different stakeholders involved in developing AI technologies for healthcare applications. According to an AMA document outlining the AI policies, at this time, a national policy or governance structure, centered on the development and deployment of non-device AI, does not exist. And one is needed. The AMA is calling for a "whole government approach," but it also urges nongovernmental organizations— such as health care institutions, practices and professional societies—to be involved in the guidance and oversight of the technology as it evolves.
In conclusion, these principles, set by the AMA, provide a basis for discussions on governance policies concerning health care AI. "The new AMA principles will guide the organization’s engagement with the administration, Congress and industry stakeholders in discussions on the future of governance policies to regulate the development, deployment and use of health care AI," Ehrenfeld said in the press release.
