AI is transforming healthcare at a rapid pace, bringing innovation, efficiency, and new challenges for legal professionals. As AI-powered tools become more integrated into healthcare delivery, lawyers practicing in health law must navigate a shifting landscape of patient privacy, liability concerns, regulatory compliance, and ethical considerations.
If you're keen to stay on top of these ever-evolving issues, then be sure to join us at PBI's 2025 Health Law Institute! Multiple sessions will delve into the intersection of artificial intelligence and health law. This institute is an excellent way to stay on top of the trends while enjoying ample networking opportunities, all while scoring compliance credits.
Now let's take a closer look at the relationship of AI and health law together.
Patient privacy. Artificial intelligence can analyze vast amounts of medical data, predict health outcomes, and even assist in robotic surgeries. However, with these advancements come significant legal and ethical concerns, such as protecting patient privacy. Since AI relies on existing data for training, that means private health information can be at risk. Companies must be held accountable for training their AI behind closed doors without receiving permission.
As AI becomes more embedded in healthcare workflows, data protection strategies must evolve to keep up. Health law attorneys must ensure that AI use is complying with patient privacy laws while also addressing any cybersecurity risks in the medical system.
Liability. What happens when an AI-powered diagnosis tool makes an incorrect recommendation? Or when a robotic-assisted surgery results in unexpected complications? Determining liability in AI-driven healthcare is one of the most pressing legal challenges in this space. Does it fall on the physician, the hospital, or the AI developer? Health law attorneys will play the crucial role in shaping these decisions of the future.
Compliance. Despite the challenges, AI can also be a powerful tool for healthcare compliance, helping to detect fraud, waste, and abuse, ensuring that healthcare providers adhere to regulatory requirements. It can do this by monitoring billing and claims, analyzing electronic health records for errors, and predicting risks before they result in violations. For attorneys, understanding how AI can streamline compliance efforts will be critical in advising clients on risk management and regulatory strategies.
Ethical concerns. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, ethical concerns are at the forefront of legal discussions. While AI has the potential to improve efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility, it also raises significant questions about bias, transparency, patient autonomy, and accountability. Lawyers working in health law must be prepared to navigate these ethical dilemmas and help shape policies that promote both innovation and patient protection.
We must remember that AI is imperfect, considering it is learning from us imperfect humans!
Join the conversation! There's still plenty of time to register for Day 1 and Day 2 of the Health Law Institute! The future of healthcare is constantly changing, and you must be prepared to tackle its challenges. Don't miss this essential institute that involves discussions of AI and healthcare, and much, much, more! Hope to see you in Harrisburg!
