Nurses weigh in on AI policy discussions

Some nurses are worried a lack of laws concerning artificial intelligence’s use in hospitals and other health facilities will result in scant protections for patients who may suffer from the technology’s mistakes. A dearth of state laws about AI’s use has caused health care workers to rely on policies established by their hospital or practice, which can vary. Richard Ridge, PhD, RN, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, believes nurses bring the patient’s perspective to policy discussions, and therefore should be part of conversations with legislators about devising protections for patients within systems using AI. Policy-makers also should consider that datasets used to train AI could hold implicit biases and lead to discrimination. (Stateline article, 3/5/24)