The world of medicine is rapidly evolving, and at the forefront of this transformation is artificial intelligence (AI). As AI continues to advance, the question of whether it should be licensed to practice medicine has become increasingly pressing. The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), which I lead, is at the forefront of this debate, advocating for a balanced approach that recognizes the potential of AI while ensuring patient safety and accountability.
In my opinion, the current consensus is that AI is not ready to be licensed independently like a human physician. Medicine is a complex field that relies on a social contract between society and its practitioners. Physicians are granted unique privileges in exchange for their commitment to competence, ethics, and accountability. A medical license is not merely a permit to provide medical advice; it represents a legal and ethical grant of authority tied to human judgment, professional responsibility, and a deep commitment to patient well-being.
As the leader of FSMB, I believe that AI should be governed within existing professional and institutional accountability structures. This means that AI should be treated as a tool, with its level of autonomy and human oversight carefully considered. We should not create a separate licensing system for AI, as this could lead to a dangerous commodification of medicine. Instead, we must ensure that AI is integrated into clinical practice in a way that maintains clear lines of responsibility and recourse for any harm that may occur.
The recent pilot program in Utah, where a health tech startup was approved to automate prescription renewals under strict parameters and physician oversight, highlights the importance of this approach. The attention drawn by the Utah Medical Licensing Board underscores the need for medical boards to have a say in clinical decisions and patient safety, even when innovation is involved. This aligns with FSMB's 2024 policy, which encourages states to work with their medical boards to explore the application of AI in healthcare.
The debate surrounding AI in healthcare is far from over. Federal and state lawmakers, governors, technology offices, and the public are all grappling with the question of who should regulate increasingly autonomous systems. I believe that state medical boards, with their expertise in professional standards, clinical risk, and accountability, are best positioned to address these complex issues. We must carefully distinguish between licensing human clinicians and authorizing AI tools, while also engaging with the evolving questions that arise when AI begins to perform clinical tasks with limited or no direct physician supervision.
In conclusion, as we navigate the integration of AI into healthcare, it is crucial to preserve clear lines of human accountability, grounded judgment, and patient trust. By working together with medical boards, stakeholders, ethicists, and AI experts, we can develop the necessary guidance and regulations to ensure that AI is a force for good in medicine, while also safeguarding the core principles of the medical profession.
