Medical Physics Seminar – Monday, April 4, 2022
Ethical Considerations for Artificial Intelligence in Radiology and Radiation Oncology
Megan Hyun, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology and radiation oncology has become a hot topic in recent years, opening up a world of possibilities for automation, precision medicine, and changing roles for human medical practitioners. Along with the opportunities of medical AI, several ethical dilemmas arise that impact the development and implementation of these tools; this means it is critical for medical physicists to have a solid understanding of fundamental bioethics principles and how to apply them in research and clinical practice. In this lecture, I will present a fundamental moral framework and its underlying principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. I will overview some current and emerging applications of AI in radiology and radiation oncology along with the ethical dilemmas that arise from these applications. These include concerns such as bias in datasets, just distribution of resources on a global scale, and the role of human practitioners. Attendees should be able to use this moral engagement as an example of how they can approach ethical dilemmas that arise when developing or implementing AI tools, or indeed any new technology, for use in medicine.