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van Stuijvenberg OC, Broekman MLD, Wolff SEC, Bredenoord AL, Jongsma KR. Developer perspectives on the ethics of AI-driven neural implants: a qualitative study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7880. [PMID: 38570593 PMCID: PMC10991497 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58535-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Convergence of neural implants with artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities for the development of novel neural implants and improvement of existing neurotechnologies. While such technological innovation carries great promise for the restoration of neurological functions, they also raise ethical challenges. Developers of AI-driven neural implants possess valuable knowledge on the possibilities, limitations and challenges raised by these innovations; yet their perspectives are underrepresented in academic literature. This study aims to explore perspectives of developers of neurotechnology to outline ethical implications of three AI-driven neural implants: a cochlear implant, a visual neural implant, and a motor intention decoding speech-brain-computer-interface. We conducted semi-structured focus groups with developers (n = 19) of AI-driven neural implants. Respondents shared ethically relevant considerations about AI-driven neural implants that we clustered into three themes: (1) design aspects; (2) challenges in clinical trials; (3) impact on users and society. Developers considered accuracy and reliability of AI-driven neural implants conditional for users' safety, authenticity, and mental privacy. These needs were magnified by the convergence with AI. Yet, the need for accuracy and reliability may also conflict with potential benefits of AI in terms of efficiency and complex data interpretation. We discuss strategies to mitigate these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odile C van Stuijvenberg
- Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Marike L D Broekman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Haaglanden Medical Center, 2512 VA, The Hague, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Samantha E C Wolff
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annelien L Bredenoord
- Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karin R Jongsma
- Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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2
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Rietjens JAC, Griffioen I, Sierra-Pérez J, Sroczynski G, Siebert U, Buyx A, Peric B, Svane IM, Brands JBP, Steffensen KD, Romero Piqueras C, Hedayati E, Karsten MM, Couespel N, Akoglu C, Pazo-Cid R, Rayson P, Lingsma HF, Schermer MHN, Steyerberg EW, Payne SA, Korfage IJ, Stiggelbout AM. Improving shared decision-making about cancer treatment through design-based data-driven decision-support tools and redesigning care paths: an overview of the 4D PICTURE project. Palliat Care Soc Pract 2024; 18:26323524231225249. [PMID: 38352191 PMCID: PMC10863384 DOI: 10.1177/26323524231225249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with cancer often have to make complex decisions about treatment, with the options varying in risk profiles and effects on survival and quality of life. Moreover, inefficient care paths make it hard for patients to participate in shared decision-making. Data-driven decision-support tools have the potential to empower patients, support personalized care, improve health outcomes and promote health equity. However, decision-support tools currently seldom consider quality of life or individual preferences, and their use in clinical practice remains limited, partly because they are not well integrated in patients' care paths. Aim and objectives The central aim of the 4D PICTURE project is to redesign patients' care paths and develop and integrate evidence-based decision-support tools to improve decision-making processes in cancer care delivery. This article presents an overview of this international, interdisciplinary project. Design methods and analysis In co-creation with patients and other stakeholders, we will develop data-driven decision-support tools for patients with breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma. We will support treatment decisions by using large, high-quality datasets with state-of-the-art prognostic algorithms. We will further develop a conversation tool, the Metaphor Menu, using text mining combined with citizen science techniques and linguistics, incorporating large datasets of patient experiences, values and preferences. We will further develop a promising methodology, MetroMapping, to redesign care paths. We will evaluate MetroMapping and these integrated decision-support tools, and ensure their sustainability using the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework. We will explore the generalizability of MetroMapping and the decision-support tools for other types of cancer and across other EU member states. Ethics Through an embedded ethics approach, we will address social and ethical issues. Discussion Improved care paths integrating comprehensive decision-support tools have the potential to empower patients, their significant others and healthcare providers in decision-making and improve outcomes. This project will strengthen health care at the system level by improving its resilience and efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jorge Sierra-Pérez
- Department of Engineering Design and Manufacturing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Gaby Sroczynski
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT TIROL – University for Health Sciences and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Uwe Siebert
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT TIROL – University for Health Sciences and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Alena Buyx
- Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Peric
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Medical Faculty Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- Department of Oncology, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Karina D. Steffensen
- Center for Shared Decision Making, Vejle/Lillebaelt University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
- Institute of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Carlos Romero Piqueras
- Department of Design and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain Fractal Strategy, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Elham Hedayati
- Department of Oncology–Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Breast Cancer Centre, Cancer Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska CCC, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria M. Karsten
- Department of Gynecology with Breast Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Canan Akoglu
- Lab for Social Design, Design School Kolding, Kolding, Denmark
| | - Roberto Pazo-Cid
- Department of Medical Oncology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Paul Rayson
- School of Computing and Communications, University Centre for Computer Corpus Research on Language, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Hester F. Lingsma
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje H. N. Schermer
- Department of Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ewout W. Steyerberg
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Medical Decision Making, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sheila A. Payne
- International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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3
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Buedo P, Prieto E, Perek-Białas J, Odziemczyk-Stawarz I, Waligora M. More ethics in the laboratory, please! Scientists' perspectives on ethics in the preclinical phase. Account Res 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38235967 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2023.2294996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In recent years there have been calls to improve ethics in preclinical research. Promoting ethics in preclinical research should consider the perspectives of scientists. Our study aims to explore researchers' perspectives on ethics in the preclinical phase. Using interviews and focus groups, we collected views on ethical issues in preclinical research from experienced (n = 11) and early-stage researchers (ESRs) (n = 14) working in a gene therapy and regenerative medicine consortium. A recurring theme among ESRs was the impact of health-related preclinical research on climate change. They highlighted the importance of strengthening ethics in relations within the scientific community. Experienced researchers were focused on technicalities of methods used in preclinical research. They stressed the need for more safeguards to protect the sensitive personal data they work with. Both groups drew attention to the importance of the social context of research and its social impact. They agreed that it is important to be socially responsible - to be aware of and be sensitive to the needs and views of society. This study helps to identify key ethical challenges and, when combined with more data, can ultimately lead to informed and evidence-based improvements to existing regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Buedo
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Eugenia Prieto
- Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Argentina
| | - Jolanta Perek-Białas
- Institute of Sociology and Center of Evaluation and Public Policy Analysis, Jagiellonian University, Poland and Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Waligora
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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4
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van Daal M, de Kanter AFJ, Bredenoord AL, de Graeff N. Personalized 3D printed scaffolds: The ethical aspects. N Biotechnol 2023; 78:116-122. [PMID: 37848162 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Personalized 3D printed scaffolds are a new generation of implants for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine purposes. Scaffolds support cell growth, providing an artificial extracellular matrix for tissue repair and regeneration and can biodegrade once cells have assumed their physiological and structural roles. The ethical challenges and opportunities of these implants should be mapped in parallel with the life cycle of the scaffold to assist their development and implementation in a responsible, safe, and ethically sound manner. This article provides an overview of these relevant ethical aspects. We identified nine themes which were linked to three stages of the life cycle of the scaffold: the development process, clinical testing, and the implementation process. The described ethical issues are related to good research and clinical practices, such as privacy issues concerning digitalization, first-in-human trials, responsibility and commercialization. At the same time, this article also creates awareness for underexplored ethical issues, such as irreversibility, embodiment and the ontological status of these scaffolds. Moreover, it exemplifies how to include gender in the ethical assessment of new technologies. These issues are important for responsible development and implementation of personalized 3D printed scaffolds and in need of more attention within the additive manufacturing and tissue engineering field. Moreover, the insights of this review reveal unresolved qualitative empirical and normative questions that could further deepen the understanding and co-creation of the ethical implications of this new generation of implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon van Daal
- Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Anne-Floor J de Kanter
- Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Annelien L Bredenoord
- Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nienke de Graeff
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Law, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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5
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Safarlou CW, Jongsma KR, Vermeulen R, Bredenoord AL. The ethical aspects of exposome research: a systematic review. EXPOSOME 2023; 3:osad004. [PMID: 37745046 PMCID: PMC7615114 DOI: 10.1093/exposome/osad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, exposome research has been put forward as the next frontier for the study of human health and disease. Exposome research entails the analysis of the totality of environmental exposures and their corresponding biological responses within the human body. Increasingly, this is operationalized by big-data approaches to map the effects of internal as well as external exposures using smart sensors and multiomics technologies. However, the ethical implications of exposome research are still only rarely discussed in the literature. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the academic literature regarding both the exposome and underlying research fields and approaches, to map the ethical aspects that are relevant to exposome research. We identify five ethical themes that are prominent in ethics discussions: the goals of exposome research, its standards, its tools, how it relates to study participants, and the consequences of its products. Furthermore, we provide a number of general principles for how future ethics research can best make use of our comprehensive overview of the ethical aspects of exposome research. Lastly, we highlight three aspects of exposome research that are most in need of ethical reflection: the actionability of its findings, the epidemiological or clinical norms applicable to exposome research, and the meaning and action-implications of bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caspar W. Safarlou
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
| | - Karin R. Jongsma
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University,
Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annelien L. Bredenoord
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for
Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
- Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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6
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The ethics of gene therapy for hemophilia: a narrative review. J Thromb Haemost 2023; 21:413-420. [PMID: 36696181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2022.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy is expected to become a promising treatment, and potentially even a cure, for hemophilia. After several years of research, the first gene therapy product has been granted conditional market authorization by the European Union in August 2022. The recent progress in the field also has implications on the ethical aspects of hemophilia gene therapy. Reviews conducted in the 2000s mainly identified questions on the ethics of conducting early-phase clinical trials. However, since then, the knowledge on safety and efficacy has improved, and the field has moved toward clinical application, a phase that has its own ethical aspects. Therefore, we conducted a narrative review to take stock of the ethical aspects of hemophilia gene therapy. Based on our analysis of the literature, we identified 3 ethical themes. The theme Living up to expectations describes the existing hopes for gene therapy and the unlikelihood of the currently approved product becoming a permanent cure. In the theme Psychosocial impacts, we discuss the fear that gene therapy will impact the identity of people with hemophilia and their need for psychosocial support. The theme Costs and access discusses the expected cost-effectiveness of gene therapy and its implications on accessibility worldwide. We conclude that it may be necessary to change the narratives surrounding gene therapy, from describing it as a cure to describing it as one of the many treatments that temporarily relieve symptoms and that there is a need to reevaluate the desirability of gene therapy for hemophilia, given the availability of other treatments.
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7
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Buedo P, Odziemczyk I, Perek-Białas J, Waligora M. How to embed ethics into laboratory research. Account Res 2023:1-19. [PMID: 36648202 PMCID: PMC10835673 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2023.2165916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Health-related innovation in biotechnology requires anticipating potential bioethical implications. In this article, we present a strategy to embed ethics in a group of early-stage researchers performing research in gene therapy and regenerative medicine in the laboratory phase. We conducted a series of focus group meetings with early-stage researchers who work in biotechnology laboratories. The objective was to reflect on the bioethical challenges of their own work and to promote the integration of research ethics with laboratory practice. The activity was assessed with questionnaires completed by the researchers before and after the meetings, and the analyses of the focus groups' content. As a result of the focus group series, all participants changed their perspectives about ethical issues regarding their planned research, developed the ability to reflect and debate on research ethics and had increased awareness of ethical issues in their own research activities. Half of them made changes in their research work. The study provides a concrete strategy to embed ethics and to strengthen responsibility in laboratory research. It is a strategy that allows to perform ethics reflection "on site" and in "real time" and complements the classic strategy of ethics assessment of the research protocol before starting the research procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Buedo
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Idalina Odziemczyk
- Doctoral School in the Social Sciences (Sociological Sciences), Jagellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Jolanta Perek-Białas
- Institute of Sociology, Center for Evaluation and Public Policies Analysis, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Marcin Waligora
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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8
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Dove ES, Reed-Berendt R, Pareek M. "Data makes the story come to life:" understanding the ethical and legal implications of Big Data research involving ethnic minority healthcare workers in the United Kingdom-a qualitative study. BMC Med Ethics 2022; 23:136. [PMID: 36527096 PMCID: PMC9756740 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-022-00875-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of UK-REACH ("The United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers") is to understand if, how, and why healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United Kingdom (UK) from ethnic minority groups are at increased risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19. In this article, we present findings from the ethical and legal stream of the study, which undertook qualitative research seeking to understand and address legal, ethical, and social acceptability issues around data protection, privacy, and information governance associated with the linkage of HCWs' registration data and healthcare data. We interviewed 22 key opinion leaders in healthcare and health research from across the UK in two-to-one semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were coded using qualitative thematic analysis. Participants told us that a significant aspect of Big Data research in public health is varying drivers of mistrust-of the research itself, research staff and funders, and broader concerns of mistrust within participant communities, particularly in the context of COVID-19 and those situated in more marginalised community settings. However, despite the challenges, participants also identified ways in which legally compliant and ethically informed approaches to research can be crafted to mitigate or overcome mistrust and establish greater confidence in Big Data public health research. Overall, our research indicates that a "Big Data Ethics by Design" approach to research in this area can help assure (1) that meaningful community and participant engagement is taking place and that extant challenges are addressed, and (2) that any new challenges or hitherto unknown unknowns can be rapidly and properly considered to ensure potential (but material) harms are identified and minimised where necessary. Our findings indicate such an approach, in turn, will help drive better scientific breakthroughs that translate into medical innovations and effective public health interventions, which benefit the publics studied, including those who are often marginalised in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward S. Dove
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Edinburgh Law School, University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL UK
| | - Ruby Reed-Berendt
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Edinburgh Law School, University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL UK
| | - Manish Pareek
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ,grid.269014.80000 0001 0435 9078Department of Infection and HIV Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
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Kargl M, Plass M, Müller H. A Literature Review on Ethics for AI in Biomedical Research and Biobanking. Yearb Med Inform 2022; 31:152-160. [PMID: 36463873 PMCID: PMC9719772 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1742516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more and more important especially in datacentric fields, such as biomedical research and biobanking. However, AI does not only offer advantages and promising benefits, but brings about also ethical risks and perils. In recent years, there has been growing interest in AI ethics, as reflected by a huge number of (scientific) literature dealing with the topic of AI ethics. The main objectives of this review are: (1) to provide an overview about important (upcoming) AI ethics regulations and international recommendations as well as available AI ethics tools and frameworks relevant to biomedical research, (2) to identify what AI ethics can learn from findings in ethics of traditional biomedical research - in particular looking at ethics in the domain of biobanking, and (3) to provide an overview about the main research questions in the field of AI ethics in biomedical research. METHODS We adopted a modified thematic review approach focused on understanding AI ethics aspects relevant to biomedical research. For this review, four scientific literature databases at the cross-section of medical, technical, and ethics science literature were queried: PubMed, BMC Medical Ethics, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. In addition, a grey literature search was conducted to identify current trends in legislation and standardization. RESULTS More than 2,500 potentially relevant publications were retrieved through the initial search and 57 documents were included in the final review. The review found many documents describing high-level principles of AI ethics, and some publications describing approaches for making AI ethics more actionable and bridging the principles-to-practice gap. Also, some ongoing regulatory and standardization initiatives related to AI ethics were identified. It was found that ethical aspects of AI implementation in biobanks are often like those in biomedical research, for example with regards to handling big data or tackling informed consent. The review revealed current 'hot' topics in AI ethics related to biomedical research. Furthermore, several published tools and methods aiming to support practical implementation of AI ethics, as well as tools and frameworks specifically addressing complete and transparent reporting of biomedical studies involving AI are described in the review results. CONCLUSIONS The review results provide a practically useful overview of research strands as well as regulations, guidelines, and tools regarding AI ethics in biomedical research. Furthermore, the review results show the need for an ethical-mindful and balanced approach to AI in biomedical research, and specifically reveal the need for AI ethics research focused on understanding and resolving practical problems arising from the use of AI in science and society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Kargl
- Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria,Correspondence to: Michaela Kargl Medical University GrazAuenbruggerplatz 2 Graz, 8036Austriawww.medunigraz.at
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10
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van Velthoven EAM, van Stuijvenberg OC, Haselager DRE, Broekman M, Chen X, Roelfsema P, Bredenoord AL, Jongsma KR. Ethical implications of visual neuroprostheses-a systematic review. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35475424 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac65b2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective. The aim of this review was to systematically identify the ethical implications of visual neuroprostheses.Approach. A systematic search was performed in both PubMed and Embase using a search string that combined synonyms for visual neuroprostheses, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), cochlear implants (CIs), and ethics. We chose to include literature on BCIs and CIs, because of their ethically relavant similarities and functional parallels with visual neuroprostheses.Main results. We included 84 articles in total. Six focused specifically on visual prostheses. The other articles focused more broadly on neurotechnologies, on BCIs or CIs. We identified 169 ethical implications that have been categorized under seven main themes: (a) benefits for health and well-being; (b) harm and risk; (c) autonomy; (d) societal effects; (e) clinical research; (f) regulation and governance; and (g) involvement of experts, patients and the public.Significance. The development and clinical use of visual neuroprostheses is accompanied by ethical issues that should be considered early in the technological development process. Though there is ample literature on the ethical implications of other types of neuroprostheses, such as motor neuroprostheses and CIs, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding the ethical implications of visual neuroprostheses. Our findings can serve as a starting point for further research and normative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A M van Velthoven
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - O C van Stuijvenberg
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - D R E Haselager
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - M Broekman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Haaglanden Medical Center, The Hague, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - X Chen
- Department of Vision & Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P Roelfsema
- Department of Vision & Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A L Bredenoord
- Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K R Jongsma
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
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11
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Huang PH, Kim KH, Schermer M. Ethical Issues of Digital Twins for Personalized Health Care Service: Preliminary Mapping Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e33081. [PMID: 35099399 PMCID: PMC8844982 DOI: 10.2196/33081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of digital twins has great potential for transforming the existing health care system by making it more personalized. As a convergence of health care, artificial intelligence, and information and communication technologies, personalized health care services that are developed under the concept of digital twins raise a myriad of ethical issues. Although some of the ethical issues are known to researchers working on digital health and personalized medicine, currently, there is no comprehensive review that maps the major ethical risks of digital twins for personalized health care services. OBJECTIVE This study aims to fill the research gap by identifying the major ethical risks of digital twins for personalized health care services. We first propose a working definition for digital twins for personalized health care services to facilitate future discussions on the ethical issues related to these emerging digital health services. We then develop a process-oriented ethical map to identify the major ethical risks in each of the different data processing phases. METHODS We resorted to the literature on eHealth, personalized medicine, precision medicine, and information engineering to identify potential issues and developed a process-oriented ethical map to structure the inquiry in a more systematic way. The ethical map allows us to see how each of the major ethical concerns emerges during the process of transforming raw data into valuable information. Developers of a digital twin for personalized health care service may use this map to identify ethical risks during the development stage in a more systematic way and can proactively address them. RESULTS This paper provides a working definition of digital twins for personalized health care services by identifying 3 features that distinguish the new application from other eHealth services. On the basis of the working definition, this paper further layouts 10 major operational problems and the corresponding ethical risks. CONCLUSIONS It is challenging to address all the major ethical risks that a digital twin for a personalized health care service might encounter proactively without a conceptual map at hand. The process-oriented ethical map we propose here can assist the developers of digital twins for personalized health care services in analyzing ethical risks in a more systematic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Hua Huang
- Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ki-Hun Kim
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Maartje Schermer
- Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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12
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Gerrits EM, Bredenoord AL, van Mil MHW. Educating for Responsible Research Practice in Biomedical Sciences: Towards Learning Goals. SCIENCE & EDUCATION 2022; 31:977-996. [PMID: 34744313 PMCID: PMC8557998 DOI: 10.1007/s11191-021-00295-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
New developments in the field of biomedicine can have extensive implications for society. To steer research efforts in a responsible direction, biomedical scientists should contribute to a forward-looking ethical, and societal evaluation of new developments. However, the question remains how to equip students sufficiently with the skills they need to contribute to this evaluation. In this paper, we examine how the four dimensions of Responsible Research and Innovation (anticipation, reflexivity, inclusivity, and responsiveness) inform the identification of learning goals and teaching approaches that contribute to developing these skills in biomedical scientists. We suggest that these educational approaches focus on the skills to anticipate intended and unintended outcomes, reflect on the epistemological and moral aspects of research practice, and be inclusive of the variety of voices in society. We argue that if these dimensions are properly integrated into biomedical curricula, they will help students develop the attitudinal aspects necessary for becoming responsive, and prepare them for implementing the dimensions of responsible research into their daily practice. This paper focuses specifically on skills biomedical scientists need for the responsible conduct of research. Therefore, our analysis results, at least in part, in domain-specific recommendations. We invite educators from other disciplines to do the same exercise, as we believe this could lead to tailored educational approaches by which students from various disciplinary backgrounds learn how they each have a role in contributing to socially robust and morally responsible research practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elianne M. Gerrits
- Center of Education and Training, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marc H. W. van Mil
- Center of Education and Training, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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13
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Drogt J, Milota M, Vos S, Bredenoord A, Jongsma K. Integrating artificial intelligence in pathology: a qualitative interview study of users' experiences and expectations. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:1540-1550. [PMID: 35927490 PMCID: PMC9596368 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-022-01123-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked enthusiasm for its potential use in pathology. As pathology labs are currently starting to shift their focus towards AI implementation, a better understanding how AI tools can be optimally aligned with the medical and social context of pathology daily practice is urgently needed. Strikingly, studies often fail to mention the ways in which AI tools should be integrated in the decision-making processes of pathologists, nor do they address how this can be achieved in an ethically sound way. Moreover, the perspectives of pathologists and other professionals within pathology concerning the integration of AI within pathology remains an underreported topic. This article aims to fill this gap in the literature and presents the first in-depth interview study in which professionals' perspectives on the possibilities, conditions and prerequisites of AI integration in pathology are explicated. The results of this study have led to the formulation of three concrete recommendations to support AI integration, namely: (1) foster a pragmatic attitude toward AI development, (2) provide task-sensitive information and training to health care professionals working in pathology departments and (3) take time to reflect upon users' changing roles and responsibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jojanneke Drogt
- Department of Medical Humanities, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Megan Milota
- grid.7692.a0000000090126352Department of Medical Humanities, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Shoko Vos
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Annelien Bredenoord
- grid.7692.a0000000090126352Department of Medical Humanities, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Karin Jongsma
- grid.7692.a0000000090126352Department of Medical Humanities, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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14
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Vlaanderen J, de Hoogh K, Hoek G, Peters A, Probst-Hensch N, Scalbert A, Melén E, Tonne C, de Wit GA, Chadeau-Hyam M, Katsouyanni K, Esko T, Jongsma KR, Vermeulen R. Developing the building blocks to elucidate the impact of the urban exposome on cardiometabolic-pulmonary disease: The EU EXPANSE project. Environ Epidemiol 2021; 5:e162. [PMID: 34414346 PMCID: PMC8367039 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
By 2030, more than 80% of Europe's population will live in an urban environment. The urban exposome, consisting of factors such as where we live and work, where and what we eat, our social network, and what chemical and physical hazards we are exposed to, provides important targets to improve population health. The EXPANSE (EXposome Powered tools for healthy living in urbAN SEttings) project will study the impact of the urban exposome on the major contributors to Europe's burden of disease: Cardio-Metabolic and Pulmonary Disease. EXPANSE will address one of the most pertinent questions for urban planners, policy makers, and European citizens: "How to maximize one's health in a modern urban environment?" EXPANSE will take the next step in exposome research by (1) bringing together exposome and health data of more than 55 million adult Europeans and OMICS information for more than 2 million Europeans; (2) perform personalized exposome assessment for 5,000 individuals in five urban regions; (3) applying ultra-high-resolution mass-spectrometry to screen for chemicals in 10,000 blood samples; (4) evaluating the evolution of the exposome and health through the life course; and (5) evaluating the impact of changes in the urban exposome on the burden of cardiometabolic and pulmonary disease. EXPANSE will translate its insights and innovations into research and dissemination tools that will be openly accessible via the EXPANSE toolbox. By applying innovative ethics-by-design throughout the project, the social and ethical acceptability of these tools will be safeguarded. EXPANSE is part of the European Human Exposome Network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Vlaanderen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kees de Hoogh
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Swiss Tropical Health, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gerard Hoek
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annette Peters
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | - Augustin Scalbert
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Biomarkers Group, Lyon, France
| | - Erik Melén
- Department of Clinical Science and Education Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cathryn Tonne
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Barcelona, Spain
| | - G Ardine de Wit
- Department of health care innovation and evaluation, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Healthcare. National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Marc Chadeau-Hyam
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Klea Katsouyanni
- Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Karin R Jongsma
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of health care innovation and evaluation, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Saheb T, Saheb T, Carpenter DO. Mapping research strands of ethics of artificial intelligence in healthcare: A bibliometric and content analysis. Comput Biol Med 2021; 135:104660. [PMID: 34346319 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The growth of artificial intelligence in promoting healthcare is rapidly progressing. Notwithstanding its promising nature, however, AI in healthcare embodies certain ethical challenges as well. This research aims to delineate the most influential elements of scientific research on AI ethics in healthcare by conducting bibliometric, social network analysis, and cluster-based content analysis of scientific articles. Not only did the bibliometric analysis identify the most influential authors, countries, institutions, sources, and documents, but it also recognized four ethical concerns associated with 12 medical issues. These ethical categories are composed of normative, meta-ethics, epistemological and medical practice. The content analysis complemented this list of ethical categories and distinguished seven more ethical categories: ethics of relationships, medico-legal concerns, ethics of robots, ethics of ambient intelligence, patients' rights, physicians' rights, and ethics of predictive analytics. This analysis likewise identified 40 general research gaps in the literature and plausible future research strands. This analysis furthers conversations on the ethics of AI and associated emerging technologies such as nanotech and biotech in healthcare, hence, advances convergence research on the ethics of AI in healthcare. Practically, this research will provide a map for policymakers and AI engineers and scientists on what dimensions of AI-based medical interventions require stricter policies and guidelines and robust ethical design and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Saheb
- Management Studies Center, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Tayebeh Saheb
- Assistant professor, Faculty of Law, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - David O Carpenter
- Director for the Institute for Health and the Environment, School of Public Health, State University of New York, University at Albany, USA.
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16
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Primate Organoids and Gene-Editing Technologies toward Next-Generation Biomedical Research. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 39:1332-1342. [PMID: 33941418 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The improved ability to organize pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into 3D structures in vitro has shed light on organoid technology to recapitulate organs and tumors in vivo. Advances in gene-editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-mediated techniques, offer tremendous potential in facilitating organoid research, including the study of development, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. This review discusses how the combination of two novel technologies - organoids and gene editing - not only contributes to revealing molecular events taking place during development and tumorigenesis but also has implications for biobanking, precision medicine, and other diverse biomedical applications.
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