Safe, Effective and Ethical use of AI

A Joint Statement of Intent to support safe, effective and ethical use in health and social care has been developed by the Professional Standards Authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), professional regulators and representatives of Accredited Registers.

Co-Chairs of the AI Principles Task and Finish Group, Melanie Venables and Mani Hussain said:

"The Statement sets out a shared commitment to work collaboratively in response to the recommendations of the National AI Commission on the Regulation of Healthcare and to support the safe, effective and responsible use of artificial intelligence across health and social care. It also commits participating organisations to developing a set of high-level principles to help promote greater consistency in how AI-related issues are addressed through professional standards, guidance and regulation.

Artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities to improve outcomes for patients, service users and professionals. At the same time, it raises important questions about safety, accountability, public confidence and professional responsibility. We believe these challenges are best addressed through collaboration across the regulatory and wider health and care landscape."

IPEM welcomes this collaborative approach and President, Mark Knight wrote a letter to the Chairs setting out the significant programme of work IPEM is already undertaking and the key roles medical physicists and clinical engineers have to play in the development, implementation, assurance and safe use of AI-enabled technologies in healthcare. He also expressed our desire to contribute IPEM's expertise as this work progresses.