As technology continues to shape the way we access healthcare, algorithms are increasingly dictating treatments, diagnoses and even how medical staff spend their time. The prospect of algorithms controlling healthcare decisions is an attractive one for many and offers many potential benefits. The idea of a computer taking away the burden of making decisions and allocating resources often seems advantageous, but when healthcare is decided by algorithms, who really wins?
Algorithm-driven healthcare presents many advantages. Primarily, it offers potential savings to healthcare systems by providing efficient solutions to allocating resources. Algorithms can also help reduce wait times and identify the most effective treatments, potentially helping to reduce medical errors. However, with such a powerful technology come several potential risks.
The first risk is that algorithms are limited by the data they are given, and can therefore be biased. Data used to construct algorithms rarely captures individual differences and preferences, so algorithms are unable to consider the experience of patients within their decisions. In addition, algorithms have been found to have higher accuracy rates with certain populations, such as white males, and significantly lower accuracy with other populations, potentially perpetuating existing disparities among patients.
Finally, algorithms can be used to reduce healthcare costs and maximize efficiency, but this can be done at the cost of patient autonomy. Algorithms can dictate treatments without allowing a patient to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, denying them a central role in determining the course of their treatment. This approach can lead to patients feeling disconnected from their healthcare and frustrated that decisions are being taken out of their hands.
When healthcare is decided by algorithms, it is important to consider all the potential scenarios that may arise, both positive and negative. Algorithms can provide a more efficient way to manage healthcare decisions, but they must also be aware of data biases, patient autonomy and potential disparities among populations. Ultimately, algorithms should be used to supplement human judgment, not to replace it. When algorithms are used to assess the overall picture, rather than become the sole decision maker in healthcare, everyone can benefit.
Hey Subscribe to our newsletter for more articles like this directly to your email.