Ethical Considerations in the Deployment of Artificial Intelligence in Surgery

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an attractive option to optimize surgical decision-making. However, multiple ethical concerns exist when applying AI to clinical care. We must consider the benefits of increased efficiency and potential accuracy of using AI against the principles of medical ethics, notably patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Discrepancies can result in concerns with bias, inequality, transparency, and patient safety as the medical field learns and begins to integrate this new technology. This manuscript is an extension of our 2024 meeting symposium on the topic and provides a review of the current literature around the ethical challenges of AI in academic surgery. We consider accountability, consent, notification, and bias in the setting of patient care and surgical education. Our goal is to equip physicians with a clear understanding of the ethical challenges and considerations surrounding AI to help them make informed decisions about integrating the technology into their practice and careers.