AI in medicine has the potential to solve challenging problems but must be deployed carefully to counter biases, not entrench them.
The problems: AI algorithms in healthcare are trained using large data sets that often reflect long-standing racial inequities in healthcare delivery.
* Clinicians provide different care to white patients and patients of color, while people of color are often underrepresented in training data sets.
* A 2019 study found that an algorithm used to predict healthcare needs for over 100 million people was biased against Black patients.
Efforts to combat bias: Hospitals and researchers are joining forces to build national coalitions and share best practices to combat bias.
* The Biden administration has recently released proposals to design guardrails for the emerging technology.
* The Office for Civil Rights at HHS has proposed updated regulations that prohibit discrimination in clinical algorithms.
Challenges and concerns: Experts have concerns about the clarity and public availability of guidelines, as too restrictive regulations may cause physicians to avoid AI tools altogether.
* Hospitals with fewer resources may struggle to stay on the right side of the law without clear guidance.
* Addressing underlying racial inequities in healthcare remains essential.
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