National Academy of Medicine publishes AI Code of Conduct draft

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has published a draft framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in healthcare and biomedical sciences and is seeking input from industry stakeholders.

The “Artificial Intelligence in Health, Health Care, and Biomedical Science: An AI Code of Conduct Principles and Commitments Discussion Draft,” outlines strategies that healthcare organizations can deploy to advance the accuracy, safety and reliability of ethical AI tools.

The paper aims to help stakeholders navigate the healthcare AI governance landscape, maximizing the benefits of these solutions while minimizing potential risks.

“The promise of AI technologies to transform health and health care is tremendous, but there is concern that their improper use can have harmful effects. There is a pressing need for establishing principles, guidelines, and safeguards for the use of AI in health care,” said NAM president Victor J. Dzau, MD, in a press release. “The new draft code of conduct framework is an important step toward creating a path forward to safely reap the benefits of improved health outcomes and medical breakthroughs possible through responsible use of AI.”

The draft was developed by the NAM’s AI Code of Conduct initiative with guidance from an expert stakeholder Steering Committee.

Pulling from a review of existing literature on AI guidelines and best practices, the draft’s authors proposed a series of ten Code Principles that underpin responsible AI development, use and monitoring – such as engagement, safety, accessibility and equity – and six Code Commitments: focus, benefits, involvement, workforce well-being, monitoring and innovation.

The principles and commitments are based on the NAM Leadership Consortium’s Learning Health System Core Principles.

“This new framework puts us on the path to safe, effective, and ethical use of AI, as its transformational potential is put to use in health and medicine,” stated NAM executive officer Michael McGinnis, MD. “It serves as a foundational reference for continuous learning, alignment, and improvement in our health system.”

The NAM Leadership Consortium is seeking feedback from healthcare and biomedical sciences stakeholders on the draft to advance the responsible use of health AI. A commentary survey is available and open for public comment until May 1, 2024.

“As we stand at the cusp of a health care revolution, the collective wisdom of our nation’s experts is our guiding star,” said Peter Lee, PhD, Steering Committee member and president of Microsoft Research. “With the release of this draft, we invite contributions that will not only refine the framework but do so in a way that helps steer the accelerating integration of AI in health care. Such advancements are pivotal in surmounting the barriers we face in U.S. health care today, ensuring a healthier tomorrow for all.”

The draft’s publication is the culmination of efforts that began in June and are expected to continue for at least three years.

In January, McGinnis sat down with HealthITAnalytics to discuss how the AI Code of Conduct fits into the growing patchwork of healthcare AI governance efforts and how a national governance infrastructure can help ensure patient safety as these technologies continue to rapidly advance.