Preserving medical ethics in the digital age.

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been creating many positive changes in the global healthcare field. From assisting in reading diagnostic images, analyzing genes, predicting disease risks… to optimizing hospital management processes, AI has become an integral part of modern clinical practice. However, as technology permeates every corner of the healthcare system, a major question arises: where does medical ethics stand in an era where machines are becoming increasingly "intelligent"?

As a valuable technological achievement that contributes to improving diagnostic accuracy and supporting doctors in making evidence-based decisions, AI can detect lesions at a very early stage, analyze big data to personalize treatment plans and optimize patient flow, reducing overload… However, no matter how sophisticated it is, AI is only a decision-making tool; it has no legal responsibility, no conscience, and certainly no empathy. The ultimate responsibility to the patient remains with the medical staff. Therefore, medical ethics is not replaced in the AI ​​era; on the contrary, it must be strengthened as an unshakeable foundation.

The development of AI in medicine raises a series of ethical issues that should be identified scientifically and comprehensively. These include the security and privacy of medical data. Health data is sensitive, directly related to human dignity and rights. Collecting, storing, and processing data to train AI models requires strict security mechanisms, transparency regarding its use, and patient consent.

Any misuse or leakage of AI technology can have serious social and legal consequences. Misuse of AI can lead to algorithmic bias in diagnosis and treatment. AI learns from historical data. If the input data is unrepresentative or biased, the output could lead to inaccurate diagnoses and inappropriate treatments for certain populations. This necessitates clinical validation, independent evaluation, and continuous updating of AI systems before widespread deployment. Furthermore, over-reliance on technology may diminish direct interaction between doctors and patients. Meanwhile, listening, empathy, and sharing are the elements that build trust – the foundation of the treatment relationship.

It can be said that medical ethics in the AI ​​era helps reinforce professional responsibility. Doctors cannot "delegate" professional responsibility to machines. The final clinical decision must be based on a combination of technological data, professional knowledge, and individualized assessment of each patient. AI is only valuable when used by competent and ethical medical professionals. AI also helps to improve the legal framework and ethical standards for digital medicine.

Medical history shows that, despite technological advancements, the core values ​​of the medical profession remain unchanged: saving lives, alleviating pain, and protecting human life and dignity. AI may calculate faster and analyze more deeply, but it cannot replace the heart and responsibility of a physician. The AI ​​era does not diminish medical ethics; on the contrary, it demands that ethics be more clearly defined in all professional decisions and actions. As technology develops at an ever-increasing pace, professional conscience and ethical standards will be the "operating system" keeping the healthcare system functioning correctly.

In the digital transformation of the medical industry, we cannot choose between technology and medical ethics. We must develop both simultaneously, so that AI becomes an extension of the physician's arm, not a replacement for humanity in healthcare. Upholding medical ethics in the AI ​​era means upholding the foundation of society's trust in the medical profession, a trust built not only on intelligence, but first and foremost on responsibility and compassion.

Dr. Huynh Minh Chin, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/giu-gin-y-duc-trong-ky-nguyen-so-post840136.html