A new White Paper, a collaboration between the Centre for Assuring Autonomy at the University of York, the MPS Foundation, and the Improvement Academy at the Bradford Institute for Health Research, addresses the integration of AI in healthcare.

The UK Government has prioritized the use of AI in healthcare, aiming to enhance efficiency and responsiveness within public health systems.

The White Paper presents seven recommendations designed to prevent clinicians from rejecting AI tools due to perceived burdens, urging immediate attention from government, AI developers, and regulators.

One major concern highlighted is that clinicians may view AI technology as a burden, which could impede its potential benefits for patient care.

The research emphasizes the importance of maintaining clinicians' autonomy, advocating for AI decision-support tools that provide relevant data without making explicit treatment recommendations.

The White Paper argues that AI tools should not be treated as senior colleagues in decision-making, stressing the need for clear guidance on managing conflicts with AI recommendations.

Professor Ibrahim Habli underscores the necessity of providing clinicians with clear recommendations on the safe use of AI tools, drawing from real-world scenarios and insights from both patients and clinicians.

Another recommendation highlights the importance of adequately training clinicians on the purposes and limitations of AI tools to boost their comfort and confidence in using them.

Involving clinicians in the design process of AI tools is crucial for creating user-friendly interfaces and ensuring an appropriate balance of information, ultimately benefiting patient care.

Professor Tom Lawton warns that rapid advancements in AI could lead to technologies that favor developers over clinicians and patients, potentially resulting in clinician burnout and inefficiencies.

The White Paper calls for full clinician involvement in the design and development of AI tools, along with reforms to product liability to tackle current challenges in legal accountability.

Clinicians should have the discretion to disclose to patients whether AI tools influenced their decisions, depending on the context and potential patient concerns.