AI in the OR

AI courses through the veins of the healthcare industry. AI is everywhere. In the afterlife too, maybe.

At first, AI was “incorporated”. Now, it leads. We have come such a long way, robots assist in surgery now.

Not to make this the doctors v/s AI standoff but we know for sure that AI has good handwriting. At least we fixed the illegible handwriting.

How is AI running the show?

1. Medical Diagnosis.

Incomplete medical history, large caseloads, and mismanaged data makes even simple cases life threatening.  400,000 people a year suffer from preventable harm. About 100,000 of them don’t fare so well. AI can predict and diagnose cases to ensure that a misdiagnosis is not issued.

2. Drug Discovery

The pharma industry shells out big money for trials and labour.  $1.3 billion, if you’re looking for a number.  AI platforms use structure based drug design to predict how drug molecules will interact with the target. We have faster rollout to production, significantly lesser labour cost and obviously, a win for the pharma industry.

3. Robotic Surgery

We have to take a moment to address how cool this is. The entire range of surgery, minimally invasive to heavy duty ones, robots have been incorporated for precision and better insights.

Can AI replace doctors?

There’s a misconception that needs to be cleared. The term “robotic” often misleads people. Robots don’t perform surgery. They’re tools that the surgeon is empowered with. The robots are operated via consoles making sure the surgeon is in charge of everything.

Also, must not discount the doctor-patient relationship. Studies have shown that this relationship is important for overall patient health. A human connection based on trust and informed consent cannot be dismissed.

So, no. Not yet, at least.

A booming field like this makes for cut-throat competition. The world is learning to specialise and make a mark for themselves in this industry. Here are the big players

1. United States:

   With world renowned hospitals in cities like Boston, Cleveland, and Houston, USA ranks at the top of the game. Robots are employed in cardiac surgery, urology and gynaecology.

2. Germany:

   Germany and engineering is a love story as old as time. What isn’t old is their innovation and contribution to the field. The country's medical institutions perform complex robotic procedures, particularly in orthopaedics and oncology.

3. South Korea:

   South Korea has delved deep into plastic surgery and joint replacements. Being the front runners in this market, they have truly discovered the marvel of AI in healthcare.

You can read more about the global scientific production of robotic surgery in medicine here

Modern Healthcare, Modern Problems

♦ Data Collection Concern

Trust is the undercurrent of the healthcare industry. AI systems that handle large volumes of sensitive data must implement robust security protocols to prevent such breaches, which can lead to identity theft and loss of public trust.

A notable example is the 2016 data breach at Banner Health, affecting 3.7 million patients.

Biases

Research has shown that some AI systems, like the one used in a 2019 study published in Science, had racial biases in predicting healthcare needs, leading to Black patients receiving significantly less care compared to white patients despite having similar medical needs

Legal Challenges

The paperwork can rarely ever keep up with such a fast-paced industry. The boundaries of AI grow, collide and sometimes even blur. Law-making is a tedious job.

Accountability:

The case of IBM Watson’s recommendations for unsafe cancer treatments in 2018 raises questions about liability. Establishing clear guidelines on accountability—whether it falls on the hospital, the technology provider, or both—is crucial for integrating AI into clinical settings.

Resistance to AI

Surveys, like one conducted by the Pew Research Center, reveal that a significant portion of the public remains skeptical about AI in healthcare, concerned about the loss of human oversight.

Cybersecurity risks

Malware. Ransomware. Data breaches. Privacy violations.