(Quebec) Patient interests must guide the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the health network to avoid “unbridled and uncontrolled” use, believes the Federation of Specialist Physicians of Quebec (FMSQ).
The doctors’ union publishes a first position on the supervision of artificial intelligence in health following the publication of the vast report AI ready of the Quebec Innovation Council, submitted in January to the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy.
” It is [un rapport] still very general, which does not specifically affect health,” explains the president of the FMSQ, Dr.r Vincent Oliva. However, AI “is a revolution in medicine,” he adds.
Read “AI supervision: a report calls on Quebec to move “without delay””
At the same time, the federation has undertaken a reflection on the use of AI in the medical field in Quebec. “It’s clear that innovation, for us, is the future of medicine, especially with our capacities which are relatively limited in Quebec. We know we lack access. […] Artificial intelligence is one of the innovation initiatives that we cannot ignore,” he argues.
The Dr Oliva points out that AI is already present in the health and social services network, particularly with recently acquired technological devices, but future advances will be even more advanced. We must prepare for it, maintains the FMSQ. This involves in particular the training and involvement of specialist doctors who must be “guarantees of the ethics” of the application of AI.
“The risks are that artificial intelligence is not used for the benefit of patients,” explains the Dr Olive. The president of the FMSQ cites as an example the recent report by The Press reporting private clinics in Canada and the United States that offer high-cost “whole body exams” to screen for cancer.
Read “A $2,500 exam that sows doubt”
“This is the kind of technology that is promoted on social media, which has absolutely no added value for patients. It’s a very powerful tool, but what does it achieve in the end? Not much,” explains Dr.r Oliva, who wants to avoid the use of AI in Quebec “in a somewhat unbridled and unregulated manner”.
“Solutions in practice”
Last year, the FMSQ created an Innovation Office whose primary mandate was to define the doctors’ union’s position on AI. The Federation also brought together around fifteen experts from different specialties to comment on the subject. A call for projects was also launched to find “innovative solutions” which could be implemented in the network.
AI offers a world of possibilities, underlines the Dr Olive. “It can be as basic as using software that will improve the flow of patients in the operating room,” he illustrates.
The president of the FMSQ also discusses the use of voice recognition for dictation in radiology or the technological analysis of medical examinations. “Not only will the artificial intelligence software identify if there are anomalies […] but [il va] also put this exam on top of the pile,” he adds.
At a time when Quebec is still trying to get rid of faxes, the government will have to invest massively in its infrastructure to “be able to implement” these technologies, estimates the FMSQ, which agrees that the health network suffers from a technological delay. .
The FMSQ call for projects ends on March 15. The union then wishes to promote it to facilitate the implementation of these projects in the network.