My physician, the AI and me

Artificial intelligence in healthcare from the perspective of citizens and physicians

Series of events funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture as part of the "Discourses on the Future" program

Duration: October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024

Artificial intelligence is a new player at all levels of healthcare, affecting the relationships and roles of those involved. The encounter between patients and physicians is particularly affected by this. With our future discourse, we are addressing a series of new and previously unresolved questions: Should physicians view diagnostic systems based on artificial intelligence as "colleagues" or as a tool for decision-making? How should patients deal with physicians who disagree with the recommendations of artificial intelligence? What new skills do patients and physicians need when artificial intelligence is involved, and how should patient information and education be designed?

The aim of the project is to develop future concepts for the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence at the communicative micro-level of healthcare, namely in the encounter between patients and physicians. Using specially developed narrative and illustrated case vignettes as a "patient journey" or "physician journey", a multi-perspective discourse space is to be opened up. The discourse path leads through four discourse stations, in which citizens in their role as potential patients and physicians are introduced to the topic area and discuss the case vignettes as a basis for solution-oriented future concepts. These future concepts are to be incorporated into a "living document" with recommendations for action for the encounter between physicians and patients in the event that artificial intelligence is involved.

Responsible for the content are Dr. phil. Frank Ursin (in charge), Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Sabine Salloch and Pranab Rudra, M. Sc.

Booklet with case vignettes on the events

Recommendations for action resulting from the events recommendations for action

Posters of the events

Series of events

1st discourse station on 17.04.2024 (5 to 7 pm) as a discourse kick-off, online
2nd discourse station on 08.06.2024 (10 am to 4:30 pm) as a citizens' conference, Hanover
3rd discourse station on 12.06.2024 (5 to 8:30 pm) as continuing medical education together with the Lower Saxony Medical Association, Hanover
4th discourse station on 19.06.2024 (5 to 7 pm) as a discourse arena, online

1st discourse station: Discourse kick-off

Artificial intelligence is a new player at all levels of healthcare, affecting the relationships and roles of those involved. The encounter between patients and physicians is particularly affected by this. With our future discourse, we are addressing a series of new and previously unresolved questions: Should physicians regard diagnostic systems based on artificial intelligence as "colleagues" or as a tool for decision-making? How should patients deal with physicians who disagree with the recommendations of artificial intelligence? What new skills do patients and physicians need when artificial intelligence is involved, and how should patient information and education be designed? The aim of the project is to develop future concepts for the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence at the communicative micro-level of healthcare, namely in the encounter between patients and physicians.

We would like to explore different aspects of this dynamic, taking into account the perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals. We therefore cordially invite you to join us for a discussion on possibilities and ways of dealing appropriately with uncertainties and doubts.

Program:

17:00 - Opening (Institute of History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, MHH)
17:05 - How can artificial intelligence help patients? The new medicine between healing, worries and hype (Prof. Dr. Stefan Heinemann; Chair of Business Ethics at FOM University of Applied Sciences Essen)
5:20 pm - Micro Opinion Poll
5:30 pm - Forming your own opinion... Ethical questions in dealing with AI (Prof. Dr. Janina Loh; Honorary Professorship for Ethics of Technology and its Social Contexts at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences)
5:50 pm - AI in Medicine - Highlights from the Legal Field (Prof. Dr. Dr. Susanne Beck; Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Comparative Criminal Law and Philosophy of Law at Leibniz Universität Hannover)
6:10 p.m. - Break
6:20 p.m. - Discussions in small groups
6:40 p.m. - Summary and conclusion
7:00 p.m. - End

Flyer for the 1st Discourse Station

Results of the 1st discourse station as graphic recording

(Illustrations by Tanja Föhr)

2nd discourse station: Citizens' conference

Time: June 8, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Ada and Theodor Lessing Adult Education Center Hanover, Burgstraße 14, Hanover

The aim of the citizens' conference is to develop future concepts for the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence in the encounter between patients and physicians. Expert presentations will be followed by interactive discussions, several votes and practical exercises based on illustrated case vignettes. The case vignettes will focus on scenarios that illustrate ethical and legal dilemmas related to the integration of AI in healthcare. A graphic recording will be used as a visual protocol. The results of the event will be incorporated into concrete recommendations for action.

Program

10:00 Welcome and introduction
10:30 Prof. Steffen Oeltze-Jafra: Dr. med. AI - Artificial intelligence in healthcare
11:00 Prof. David Matusiewicz: The digital transformation in healthcare
11:30 Coffee break
11:50 Prof. Tanja Henking: Waiting for Dr. AI? Effects of AI on the physician-patient relationship from a legal perspective
12:20 Lunch
13:20 Patient Journey: A patient's journey through the healthcare system of the future (workshop with case vignettes)
14:20 Coffee break
14:35 Physician Journey: A physician's journey through the healthcare system of the future (workshop with case vignettes)
15:35 Panel discussion on the results of the workshops
16:30 End of the event

Flyer for the 2nd Discourse Station

Results of the 2nd discourse station as graphic recording

(Illustrations by Tanja Föhr)

3rd discourse station: Continuing medical education

Ethics and the Legal aspects of AI in the physician-patient relationship

In this training course for physicians, the consequences of the use of artificial intelligence for the physician-patient relationship will be discussed. Expert presentations will be followed by interactive discussions and practical exercises based on case vignettes. The case vignettes will focus on scenarios that illustrate ethical and legal dilemmas related to the integration of AI in healthcare. The topics covered include a "patient journey" and a "physician journey" in the healthcare system of the future.

Participants will gain insights into potential scenarios arising from AI malfunctions, disagreements between AI systems and healthcare professionals, and patient self-diagnosis using AI apps. Overall, the event aims to promote dialog, critical thinking and joint problem-solving among stakeholders. The medical training is one of four discourse stations.

Program
17:00 Welcome and introduction (Institute of History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, MHH)
17:10 Greeting from the President of the ÄKN (Dr. Wenker)
17:20 Prof. Carsten Schultz: Changing job profiles in healthcare through artificial intelligence: scenarios and strategies for action
17:35 Q&A
17:40 Prof. Giovanni Rubeis: Of Enablers and Empowered Patients. Roles in medicine in the age of AI
17:55 Q&A
18:00 Coffee break
18:15 Prof. Jan Eichelberger: Legal issues of the use of AI in the physician-patient relationship
18:30 Q&A
18:35 Case vignette: Patient Journey
19:15 Coffee break
19:30 Case vignette: Physician Journey
20:10 Summary and conclusion
20:30 End of the event

Flyer for the 3rd discourse station

Results of the 3rd discourse station as graphic recording

(Illustrations by Tanja Föhr)

4th discourse station: Discourse arena

The aim of this event, designed as a "discourse arena", is to prepare concrete recommendations for future scenarios for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the physician-patient relationship.

We will discuss and ethically classify the results from the previous workshops of the Future Discourse. In these workshops, the participants worked on illustrated case studies. These case studies represent a section of future healthcare involving AI from the perspective of physicians and patients.

Program:
16:00 Welcome and introduction
16:10 Getting to know each other and discussions in small groups
16:20 Case study discussion (topic: trust)
16:30 Case study discussion (topic: monitoring and security)
16:40 Presentation of sketch notes or of the graphic recording
16:50 Case study discussion (topic: role of the physician and AI)
17:00 Case study discussion (topic: prioritization and bias effects)
17:10 Summary and outlook
17:30 End

Results of the 4th discourse station as graphic recording

(Illustrations by Tanja Föhr)