npj Digital Medicine (Sep 2024)

Ethical debates amidst flawed healthcare artificial intelligence metrics

  • Jack Gallifant,
  • Danielle S. Bitterman,
  • Leo Anthony Celi,
  • Judy W. Gichoya,
  • Joao Matos,
  • Liam G. McCoy,
  • Robin L. Pierce

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01242-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 3

Abstract

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Healthcare AI faces an ethical dilemma between selective and equitable deployment, exacerbated by flawed performance metrics. These metrics inadequately capture real-world complexities and biases, leading to premature assertions of effectiveness. Improved evaluation practices, including continuous monitoring and silent evaluation periods, are crucial. To address these fundamental shortcomings, a paradigm shift in AI assessment is needed, prioritizing actual patient outcomes over conventional benchmarking.