In the US state of Utah, artificial intelligence is now engaged in a task that was hitherto considered unattainable, and that is renewing medical prescriptions. Not suggesting. Not assisting. Renewing them.
A health technology startup named Doctronic has recently rolled out a low-key pilot project that involves using AI for routine prescription renewals. The target of the project are those who have chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension. Individuals in these groups require the same medications on a regular basis.
The concept is straightforward. In cases where the patient is stable and the medication is in place, the AI analyzes the information and authorizes the refill without the need for the human doctor’s intervention.
"Although the pilot program launched last month with little fanfare, the implications are staggering. For the first time, regulatory agencies and policymakers are being forced to grapple with the question of whether computers can indeed make medical decisions just as well as – or even better than - trained physicians."
Many Supporters of this program, feel that it is a good solution to a stressed medical system. Doctors work long hours. Clinics are full of patients. Patients have to wait weeks to gain a mere prescription renewal.
AI, as they claim, will lower the cost of healthcare, allow physicians to concentrate on the more complicated patients, and improve rapid access to medication for the many patients. In terms of more general treatment, they say that a machine will be more consistent, data-bound, and free from the flaws of human judgment.
When a system is overextended, AI is poised to act as a pressure valve.
However, not all of them are sure of this. In fact, many doctors are very concerned about the impact of such technology on their patients’ welfare. As they say, medicine is not just about data.
There’s also concern about improper or abuse. Some detractors have argued that renewals through artificial intelligence may become problematic for drugs with addictive traits and for conditions with subtle patterns that can be missed by algorithms.
As the door is opened, doctors then ask the question of where the line is to be drawn.
This pilot project at Brigham Young University in Utah marks far more than a technology upgrade. It marks a shift in philosophy. Trust has long been at the heart of healthcare. Trust in judgment, trust in empathy, trust in accountability.
This trust is currently under strain from the algorithm.
This experiment may have implications for just how far the powers of AI are going to go in the field of medicine from today through to tomorrow.
Which brings me to the point. Because AI is obviously better at filling prescriptions quicker, cheaper, and en masse, should the system allow this to happen? Or is this one industry where the decision-making process needs to come from humans?
