UK Needs New Laws for AI in Healthcare, Says Watchdog
The UK needs new regulations for Artificial Intelligence (AI) products used in healthcare settings, including the NHS, according to Britain’s industry watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
MHRA’s Recommendations
The MHRA has published 44 recommendations to update its policies as AI use in the sector increases. These include:
- Continuously monitoring AI products and revoking approval if they malfunction or become less effective over time.
- Giving patients the right to know if AI is involved in their care and providing easy access to product information.
- Empowering MHRA to penalize developers if an AI product fails to meet standards.
- Implementing an "AI L plate" system for new models, facilitating trials under close supervision by healthcare professionals.
Evolving Regulatory Framework
Lawrence Tallon, MHRA chief, noted that AI will soon be integrated into routine NHS care, emphasizing the need for updated regulations:
"What I would expect is that patients… increasingly see AI as part of the way that normal NHS healthcare is delivered. That should happen in a way that they can maintain their trust and their confidence in what’s happening."
Global Challenge
Tallon acknowledged that regulating AI is a complex, global challenge, stating:
"I don’t think at this moment in time we can point to a single country, a single regulatory framework, and say that they have absolutely cracked it."
Patient Perspectives
A recent study from the University of Edinburgh revealed that patients might be less likely to disclose personal information, like substance abuse history, if aware their conversation is AI-processed. However, Professor Henrietta Hughes, part of the report commission, noted that many patients are accepting of AI use during consultations, with some opting out instead:
"Some say, ‘I don’t want to talk to a robot’, and that is also fine."
Future Potential
While currently AI assists with tasks like note-taking and symptom spotting, its potential in healthcare and medical research is significant. Professor Alastair Denniston, an ophthalmologist on the report, described it as:
"…an exceptional opportunity for healthcare which is likely to rank alongside other major transformations of recent decades."
