Robots and AI in Health and Medical

Robots and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the health and medical sector in many ways. They are providing advanced solutions for diagnosis, treatment, research, and management of various health conditions and challenges. In this blog post, we will explore some of the current and potential applications of robots and AI in health and medical, as well as some of the ethical and social implications of their use.

Diagnosis and Screening

One of the areas where robots and AI can have a significant impact is diagnosis and screening of diseases. Robots and AI can help improve the speed and accuracy of detecting and identifying various health problems, such as infections, cancers, genetic disorders, or chronic conditions. For example:

AI can analyze large amounts of data from medical records, images, tests, or sensors to find patterns and anomalies that indicate a disease or a risk factor.
Robots can perform physical examinations or collect samples from patients using sensors, cameras, or tools. They can also interact with patients via a video screen or a voice interface to ask questions or provide information.
AI can assist doctors or nurses in making clinical decisions or recommendations based on the data collected by robots or other sources.

Some of the benefits of using robots and AI for diagnosis and screening are:

They can reduce the workload and exposure of health care workers, especially during pandemics or emergencies.
They can increase the access and affordability of health care services, especially for remote or underserved populations ¹.
They can enhance the quality and consistency of health care delivery, especially for complex or rare cases ¹.

Treatment and Care

Another area where robots and AI can have a significant impact is treatment and care of diseases. Robots and AI can help provide effective and personalized interventions for various health conditions, such as injuries, infections, cancers, or disabilities. For example:

Robots can perform surgical procedures or administer drugs or therapies using precise and minimally invasive techniques. They can also monitor the patient’s vital signs and recovery progress.
AI can design or optimize treatment plans or protocols based on the patient’s characteristics, preferences, or outcomes. It can also provide feedback or guidance to the patient or the health care provider during the treatment process.
Robots can assist patients with daily activities or rehabilitation exercises using physical or social support. They can also provide emotional or cognitive stimulation or companionship to the patient.

Some of the benefits of using robots and AI for treatment and care are:

They can improve the safety and efficiency of health care procedures, especially for high-risk or complex situations.
They can enhance the effectiveness and personalization of health care interventions, especially for chronic or incurable conditions.
They can empower patients to take greater control of their own health care and well-being, especially for elderly or disabled people.

Research and Development

A third area where robots and AI can have a significant impact is research and development of new knowledge or solutions for health and medical challenges. Robots and AI can help accelerate the discovery and innovation of new drugs, devices, or methods for preventing, diagnosing, treating, or curing diseases. For example:

AI can analyze large amounts of data from scientific literature, clinical trials, or databases to generate hypotheses or insights that can lead to new discoveries or innovations.
Robots can perform experiments or tests using automated or adaptive protocols. They can also synthesize or manipulate materials or molecules using advanced techniques.
AI can evaluate the efficacy or safety of new drugs, devices, or methods using simulations or models. It can also optimize the design or delivery of new products or services using feedback loops.

Some of the benefits of using robots and AI for research and development are:

They can increase the speed and productivity of scientific research, especially for large-scale or complex problems.
They can enhance the quality and reliability of scientific evidence, especially for novel or controversial findings.
They can expand the scope and diversity of scientific inquiry, especially for interdisciplinary or cross-cultural perspectives ⁵.

Ethics and Society

While robots and AI have great potential for improving health and medical outcomes, they also pose significant ethical and social challenges that need to be addressed. Some of these challenges are:

Privacy: How to protect the confidentiality and security of personal health data collected or used by robots or AI? How to ensure the consent and control of patients or users over their own data? How to prevent the misuse or abuse of data by unauthorized parties?
Bias: How to ensure the fairness and accuracy of robots or AI in diagnosing, treating, or researching diseases? How to avoid the discrimination or exclusion of certain groups or individuals based on their characteristics, preferences, or outcomes?
Accountability: How to ensure the responsibility and liability of robots or AI in delivering health care services or products? How to monitor and regulate the performance and behavior of robots or AI? How to resolve the conflicts or disputes that may arise from the use of robots or AI?
Trust: How to ensure the trust and confidence of patients, users, or providers in using robots or AI for health and medical purposes? How to foster the communication and collaboration between humans and robots or AI? How to balance the benefits and risks of robots or AI for health and well-being?

To address these challenges, WHO has issued a report that provides six guiding principles for the design and use of AI for health ². These principles are:

Protecting human autonomy: Respecting and upholding the agency and self-determination of humans in their interactions with AI systems.
Promoting human well-being and safety: Ensuring that AI systems contribute to the health, welfare, and dignity of humans, and prevent or minimize harm to them.
Ensuring transparency, explainability, and intelligibility: Providing clear and accessible information about the purpose, function, and limitations of AI systems, and enabling meaningful understanding of their outcomes and implications.
Fostering responsibility and accountability: Establishing appropriate governance mechanisms and legal frameworks to ensure the ethical and lawful use of AI systems, and to assign roles and obligations for their development, deployment, and evaluation.
Ensuring inclusiveness and equity: Promoting the participation and representation of diverse stakeholders in the development and use of AI systems, and ensuring that they are accessible, affordable, and beneficial for all.
Promoting AI that is responsive and sustainable: Ensuring that AI systems are adaptable and resilient to changing needs and contexts, and that they are environmentally friendly and resource-efficient.

Conclusion

Robots and AI are revolutionizing the health and medical sector in many ways. They are providing advanced solutions for diagnosis, screening, treatment, care, research, and development of various health conditions and challenges. However, they also pose significant ethical and social challenges that need to be addressed. Therefore, it is important to adopt a human-centered approach that puts ethics and human rights at the heart of the design and use of robots and AI for health.