“A statutory regulatory body, backed by independent public oversight, that works to ensure the safeguarding of health data, is a worthy recommendation by the jury, and IPPOSI echoes its call on Government to immediately start work on a national strategy for the future use of AI in healthcare that reflects the priorities set out by jurors.”.
Their role would be to increase public awareness about how AI was being used in healthcare, make recommendations on the use of individuals’ health data by AI, and independently identify opportunities to strengthen compliance with regulatory standards.
The jury also recommended that patients have the right to be informed when AI is involved in their healthcare and, where feasible, be given the choice to receive diagnosis or treatment without AI involvement.
The jury has written an open letter to the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and to the Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke, calling for a national strategy to chart the course of AI in healthcare over the next five years.
The citizens’ jury said that the establishment of a statutory regulator would be responsible for developing and enforcing standards for those using AI, including its licensing, data governance and monitoring, as well as imposing penalties for breaches.
