When AI is Watching Patient Care: Ethics to Consider

Author: Laurie Flynn

Publisher: Scope, Published by Stanford Medicine

Publication Year: 2020

Summary: The following article discusses how hospitals are implementing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to monitor patient and staff activity. It is combined with cameras and sensors places in strategic locations, such as patient rooms, hallways, and even in bathrooms. The AI can track patient movement and ensures intensive car patients are moving around enough to enhance their recovery. It is also used to in bathrooms to document whether hospital staff are properly washing their hands. However, ethical considerations must be made if patients would prefer more privacy. In this case, hospitals must disclose that patients are being recorded and their data is being captured and stored.