Senate Committee hearing: Stakeholders debate nuances of AI use in healthcare

Stakeholders convened at the Senate’s Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies’ impact and opportunities for Australia, chaired by Labor Party’s Senator Tony Sheldon.

Professor Steve Robson, President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), said “It’s important to recognise AI has the potential to deliver extraordinary innovations for how we deliver care in Australia. There are so many potential benefits for all doctors, healthcare workers, patients, and indeed the entire economy.”

However, he cautioned, “AI must have a role akin to a co-pilot. We must embrace its benefits, but not let it take over the controls.”

A/Professor Micah Peters, National Policy Research Adviser and Director of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), voiced concerns about AI’s impact on human interaction.

“Removing opportunities for human interaction, especially face-to-face interaction, is a potential risk,” he emphasised.

Dr Michael Bonning, GP and Chair of the AMA (NSW) Council, underscored AI’s potential to reduce burnout among clinicians.

“If I can automate note-taking and letter writing, I am much more likely to continue practicing at my current level, rather than scaling back work hours. So, it’s a net benefit for my patients who otherwise can wait periods of time to see me,” he said.

Professor Enrico Coiera, Director of the Australian Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, and Professor Farah Magrabi from Macquarie University’s Australian Institute of Health Innovation, put forward that if used with oversight, AI technologies have the potential to improve medical treatments.

Professor Coiera submitted 16 recommendations to the inquiry for the safe and ethical use of AI, including the establishment of a national AI healthcare authority. These were outlined in the National Policy Roadmap for AI in Healthcare.

The Roadmap lays the foundation for Australia to embrace the opportunities that AI brings to healthcare. It is designed to assist all levels of government, industry and society. It also identifies current gaps in Australia’s capability to translate AI into effective and safe clinical services and provides guidance on key issues such as workforce, industry capability, implementation, regulation, and AI safety.

Dr Bonning continued, “In clinical developments of AI technologies in the United States and Australia, I was brought in as a clinical expert to show the linkage between a powerful AI engine and algorithm but also the nuance of providing clinical medicine and what safeguards needed to be in place.”

He emphasised the importance of the “experience from the bedside” to avoid “AI solutions that get in the way of that human moment rather than being supportive and a co-pilot to better healthcare”.

Professor Robson affirmed ongoing efforts to ensure responsible AI use.

“As AI continues to evolve rapidly, we will work to make sure appropriate regulations are developed to ensure AI is being used responsibly and in a way that truly improves patient care,” he said.

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