AI-Inclusivity in Healthcare: Motivating an Institutional Epistemic Trust Perspective

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Medical Informatics
• Artificial Intelligence Ethics

Background:

• The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare necessitates a robust ethical framework.
• Public trust in science and epistemic trust are foundational for accepting AI-driven medical systems.
• Understanding the conditions for institutional epistemic trust is vital for AI-inclusivity in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the ethical considerations of institutional epistemic trust in AI-inclusive healthcare.
• To identify the conditions necessary for establishing and maintaining epistemic trust in AI healthcare systems.
• To examine the practical application and challenges of AI-inclusivity in a specific healthcare context.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on epistemic trust and public trust in science.
• Analysis of conditions for institutional epistemic trust in AI healthcare.
• Case study: AI-inclusivity in the Dutch Newborn Screening Program.

Main Results:

• Institutional epistemic trust in AI healthcare hinges on AI reliability, stakeholder knowledge, professional duties, and alignment with public values.
• The Dutch Newborn Screening Program case highlights the importance and challenges of trust in AI for genetic risk assessment.
• Effective AI-inclusivity requires careful consideration of sociopolitical contexts.

Conclusions:

• Fostering institutional epistemic trust is essential for the ethical development and deployment of AI in healthcare.
• Strategies and interventions are needed to build and maintain trust in AI-inclusive healthcare systems.
• Addressing the ethical dimensions of AI-inclusivity is critical for its successful adoption.