Artificial intelligence in healthcare: limits of criminal liability of doctors

   Artificial intelligence technologies are changing the medical care provision, which corresponds to a new healthcare paradigm.

   The subject of the study is regulatory legal acts, including subordinate (departmental) ones, acts of technical regulation, statistical data, doctrinal provisions, and Internet resources on the problems under investigation and crimes committed by medical professionals.

   The purpose of the article is to form a conceptual legal framework for the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in healthcare.

   This includes defining the limits of liability of medical professionals who use intelligent systems while providing medical care. For the introduction of artificial intelligence to have only a positive impact on the healthcare system with minimal risks and threats, it is necessary to develop standards and procedures of medical care using intelligent systems. There is a need to develop a clear legal framework for the use of intelligent systems in medical sphere to ensure patient safety and confidentiality, while preserving the potential of artificial intelligence as an assistant. In this article, the author examines the specifics of using artificial intelligence in medical practice, including issues related to the personal responsibility of a doctor when making decisions about diagnosis and treatment based on the proposal of an algorithm (a medical decision support system).

   Methodology. Using the method of legal analysis and the comparative legal method, the author analyzes the existing trends in the distribution of liability for harm in the provision of medical care in cases of an error and/or inaccuracy in making a medical decision. The article demonstrates possible future options for the distribution of responsibility between a medical organization and a medical professional. The paper systematizes approaches to legal regulation and criminal legal protection of public relations that arise if a medical professional provides assistance using artificial intelligence systems.

   The results of the study. The main results and conclusions suggest that medical professionals must always have control over artificial intelligence systems when implementing them. Doctors should be able to reasonably trust the digital tools at their disposal, notice signs of error in such systems, and timely take a new course of action. This should be reflected in the standards of medical care using with artificial intelligence technologies as the responsibility of a medical professional. In addition, the author proves that it is necessary to include the rights and obligations regarding the use of intelligent systems in medical practice in the documents regulating medical care and job descriptions of doctors. The article forms models of the distribution of doctor’s responsibility for harm caused to the life and health of patients in connection with the use of intelligent systems. The set goal of the research has been achieved.

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