Harnessing AI in Healthcare: Guidance for Clinicians
Australia has published resources for clinicians on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare systems worldwide, offering powerful tools to enhance diagnosis, streamline clinical workflows, and improve patient outcomes. Yet, with these advancements come new responsibilities for clinicians. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has published a guide providing clear recommendations for the safe, ethical, and effective use of AI in clinical settings—principles that resonate well beyond Australia’s borders.
The information in this Guide may be useful in your healthcare service:
Clinician Accountability in AI-Enabled Care
Regardless of geography, clinicians remain responsible for decisions informed by AI. Whether AI is used for diagnosis, documentation, or decision support, it’s essential to understand its intended use, limitations, and regulatory status. In many countries, AI tools used for medical purposes are classified as medical devices and must comply with national regulatory bodies, such as the EMA (Europe), or TGA (Australia).
Before Using AI Tools
AI technologies range from rule-based systems to machine learning and generative AI. Each presents unique risks. Before integrating AI into clinical practice, clinicians should critically assess the tool’s scope, evidence base, and safety profile. This includes reviewing peer-reviewed literature, regulatory documentation, and developer-provided information.
Transparency with patients is paramount. Clinicians must explain the purpose, benefits, and risks of AI tools and ensure informed consent procedures are in place. Consent should address data usage, including any sharing with third parties or use in ongoing AI training.
Recognising Risks and Ethical Challenges
AI outputs are shaped by training data, which may not reflect the diversity of patient populations. This can lead to biased recommendations and inequitable care. Clinicians must be vigilant about fairness, especially regarding ethnicity, age, disability, and other factors. AI should support—not replace—clinical judgment.
Privacy and data protection are global concerns. Clinicians should confirm that personal health data is stored and processed securely, in compliance with local laws or equivalent frameworks. If data is used for training or shared externally, explicit patient consent is essential.
During AI Use
Clinicians must apply professional judgment and review AI outputs for accuracy. Generative AI may produce fictitious or misleading content, while machine learning tools can yield false positives or negatives. Verification of summaries, alerts, and recommendations is critical.
Automation bias—the tendency to over-rely on AI—is a documented risk. It can lead to errors of commission (acting on incorrect outputs) or omission (missing critical information). Clinicians must maintain a critical perspective and prioritize clinical reasoning.
After AI Use
Ongoing monitoring is essential. Records created with AI should meet documentation standards and be clearly labelled. Any risks or adverse events must be escalated promptly. AI tools may evolve over time, altering their scope or functionality. Clinicians should stay informed about updates and re-evaluate tools regularly.
Participation in governance forums and collaboration with developers can help improve AI performance and safety. Reporting issues to regulatory bodies may be necessary in cases of harm or data breaches.
Conclusion
In summary, AI offers transformative potential for healthcare worldwide. It’s safe and ethical use depends on informed, accountable clinicians who understand the technology, engage patients transparently, and uphold standards of care. By following these global best practices, healthcare professionals can harness AI’s benefits while safeguarding trust, privacy, and equity.
To read the full report, refer to the Commission’s full AI Guide for Clinicians and other AI resources: Artificial Intelligence | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. For more details, please refer to the latest international guidelines and your country’s regulatory frameworks on AI in healthcare.