Robotics have been used to aid physicians in the health business for over four decades and have proven successful at doing repetitive activities. Precision work, accuracy, patient care, and other services are just a few of the benefits of robotics in the medical industry. The robot primarily performs tasks using complicated technology designed for specific tasks. Some robots resemble humans and are referred to be humanoid. In the hands of a doctor, robots serve as a tool. As a result, every operation failure is the doctor’s responsibility. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled devices are being used in a wide range of industries and can make autonomous decisions similar to humans. Because AI is written in machine learning language, developers may easily create AI to handle complicated problems. AI may do diagnostics, analyses, and prescriptions in the health industry and diagnose unusual medical diseases that clinicians may overlook.
In contrast to human decisions, AI systems can quickly examine data, interpret, compare, and forecast results. AI frequently operates as a self-contained system, requiring no human intervention. When an AI system is utilized independently, the question of who is responsible for any failure emerges. Many countries’ current policies, including the United States, are insufficient to solve such challenges. Many countries, including the European Union (EU) and the United States, are working on a comprehensive regulatory framework to regulate the use of AI in various industries, including health care.
In the healthcare industry, robotics is a game-changer.
Robotics uses robots that employ computers and other technology to execute repetitive or routine tasks. It is widely used in food processing, industrial manufacturing, remote operations, fire and rescue operations, the health industry, and other fields. In hospitals, robots are utilized to aid paramedics and doctors with cleanroom preparation, reducing the human burden. In the covid-19 epidemic, robots were crucial in reducing direct patient interaction with healthcare staff. In addition, robots can safely handle dangerous materials that people may not handle.
Benefits of Robotics in the Medical Field
In the healthcare industry, robotics offers a larger range of uses. Robotic surgery has been used for more than two decades to help doctors perform accurate surgery. A robot is a machine that may be trained to carry out medical procedures and follow the surgeon’s directions. In the healthcare industry, robotics is used to perform surgeries that save humans time and effort. Robots can perform pre-operative activities such as cleaning the operating room and sterilizing equipment, and they can execute keyhole surgeries with high precision under the supervision of a surgeon. The robot assists the doctor, and the doctor is responsible for any mistakes made during the procedure, even if the robot performs it. The following are the key benefits of adopting robotics in the healthcare industry:
- Accuracy and precision: Human mistakes may be removed because robots can work nonstop for lengthy periods.
- Remote treatment: Robots can operate in regions where human access is restricted and can be controlled from afar.
- Assisting and augmenting human capabilities: Robots can clean the area, handle dangerous materials, assist surgeons during surgery, and even do surgeries independently.
- Patient assistance: Robots can take on the appearance of a human and assist elderly and bedridden patients in interacting with them.
- Assisting other resources: Robots can also be employed to assist other employees with tasks like record keeping, data retrieval, and other mundane tasks.
The biggest drawbacks are a mechanical failure, a lack of human sympathy, and constantly improving technology. Despite its drawbacks, the employment of robotics in the healthcare profession is unavoidable. In general, if the surgery where the doctor seeks robotic aid fails, the doctor is accountable for any claims made by the patients.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
As AI has the power of near-human intelligence, it generally consists of software that employs algorithms and can autonomously carry out its functions and make judgments. An AI system is driven by software, along with the necessary hardware designed by humans to accomplish a given complex goal, to act in the physical or digital dimension by perceiving their environment through data acquisition, analysis, interpretation of the collected structured or unstructured data, providing reasoning on the knowledge, or processing the information derived from the set of data, and deciding the best action to achieve the desired goal without human intervention.
From the typical ‘chatbot,’ where AI can assist clients and answer their queries, AI can now perform diagnostics and prescriptions, and the most recent AI is based on machine learning algorithms, with AI educated on enormous databases. Scanning through records and reviewing data takes time, but AI can quickly compare medical situations to records and offer remedies. Such data, along with improved algorithms, enables AI to make decisions similar to those made by human minds without the need for commands. Some of the most recent AI devices are dubbed ‘humanoid’ because they resemble humans. AI can be used in a variety of ways in the healthcare industry.
AI uses Python or other programming languages such as R, while the most recent AI employs Machine Learning (ML). There is no doubt that improved technology has aided in extending human life spans over the globe. Although AI has been widely employed to improve medical care, it has raised concerns about several issues, including personal data protection and privacy. There is currently no legislation to regulate AI in many nations, including the United States. The usage of robotics and AI is covered by existing data privacy laws and industry-specific rules; however, they are insufficient in tackling AI-related challenges. In January 2021, the European Union proposed a proposal for new AI goods that are considered high risk, which included products used in the health business. AI is heavily reliant on data accumulated over time, and it employs data analytics to do the iteration necessary to achieve the desired results.
Advantages of AI
- Autonomous function: With the correct program, AI systems can perform doctor-like duties such as diagnosis, prescription, and patient advice without direct intervention from the doctor.
- Quick and accurate: AI can scan through large databases and make exact judgments on any medical problem.
- Remote application: AI can be employed in remote areas with restricted human access.
- Patient care: AI can assess each patient’s situation and provide special care.
- Person interaction: AI combined with robots can act like a human and converse in various languages depending on the situation.
AI has several drawbacks, including data security and responsibility difficulties, a lack of human compassion, mechanical failure, and technology advancements requiring regularly updating the system. However, these drawbacks can be overcome with modern technology and the right legal framework.
Rapid technology advancements will undoubtedly improve the healthcare system, and AI will have numerous applications in the field. However, AI will test current healthcare regulatory frameworks for their robustness and suitability. These regulatory frameworks will largely control medical professionals who engage in the “practice of medicine” and medical devices that fit the FDA’s definition of “device.” However, neither paradigm appears to be adequate for managing medical robots or the complex AI system in which man-machine connections may emerge. Furthermore, when healthcare AI is integrated with other technologies like big data and mobile health apps, it may add to the difficulties and flaws in healthcare regulatory regimes, notably in terms of data protection and privacy.
The interface between robotics and artificial intelligence
When combined with AI and robotics, the system can improve healthcare efficiency and reduce human effort in caring for society’s well-being. Other advantages include early detection of illnesses, which lowers healthcare costs and treatment complications, precise diagnosis of any medical conditions, comparing records and making appropriate treatment decisions, conducting additional research, and providing training for healthcare professionals.
Regulations in the United States
Although AI, data, analytics, machine learning, and robots are all interconnected, their interdependence is far more complex. When it comes to robots in medicine, the technology is a tool in the hands of the doctor who uses it; thus, if there is any malpractice, the doctor is to blame. When AI performs a therapy or surgery on its own, who is liable for the failure or malpractice arises: is it the doctor, who has little influence over AI, the person who created the codes, or the manufacturer of the hardware? To cope with AI-related challenges, clear rules are required.
The foundations for healthcare safety regulation in the United States are regulated by two entities: state medical practice acts and federal laws that require medication and device approval and supervision. As artificial intelligence (AI) gains traction in various fields, the US government is beginning to develop a legislative framework to address legal concerns. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have begun to develop guidelines for artificial intelligence in healthcare. “Intended to treat, diagnose, cure, ameliorate, or prevent disease,” according to the FDA’s definition of AI-based software as a medical device (AISAMD).
Wind-up
As a tool to aid health professionals and doctors, robotics in the healthcare industry has several benefits and is within the scope of current legislation. AI is capable of doing human-like tasks and frequently makes judgments without human intervention. As AI is still a growing technology, there are currently no regulations to regulate its use. When AI is utilized in healthcare, where data is at its core, it has the potential to be abused. As AI prepares to convert the healthcare industry into a new dimension, liability for any legal damages to patients linked to privacy, operational failure, and a slew of other claims may surface shortly. In the healthcare business, a complete legislative framework to regulate and control AI is on the horizon.
Article Author:
James Treanor is an Intellectual Property expert, a graduate of the University of California. Founder of Brealant an IP Firm in the Philippines. Brealant is an accomplished IP services firm that focuses on intellectual property, with expertise in trademark and patent registration. The services they offer since founding in 2002 have helped companies and individuals with the registration and management of all aspects of Intellectual Property. Brealant team is situated in various locations around the world, such as in the USA, Hong Kong, the Philippines, & Mexico. Philippine’s branch provides English language customer support as well as back-office operations support. Hong Kong & Mexico offices provide Chinese and Spanish language legal services and support. USA office provides IP leadership.
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