HCPC joins regulators on healthcare AI
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has joined other health and social care regulators in a new commitment to develop a consistent approach to the use of artificial intelligence by professionals across the UK.
The Joint Statement of Intent brings together the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), 10 professional regulators, including the HCPC, and the Accredited Registers Collaborative. It commits them to developing high-level principles for the safe, effective and ethical use of AI.
For biomedical scientists, one of the key issues is how professional responsibility applies as AI becomes more widely used in healthcare. The HCPC has stressed that it regulates the professionals using AI rather than the technology itself, and that health and care professionals remain responsible for the decisions they make when AI has been used to support them. It also says people should be able to understand when AI is being used in their care and how it has informed decisions affecting them.
The work follows the publication of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare’s final recommendations. The Commission called for clearer responsibilities across the AI lifecycle, stronger training and support for healthcare professionals and continuing monitoring of AI technologies once they are in use.
The new statement does not introduce additional professional standards or requirements at this stage. The next step will be for regulators to develop the shared principles, drawing on engagement with professionals, patients, service users and the public. The PSA and MHRA are already co-chairing a Task and Finish Group taking this work forward.
The HCPC is also undertaking research into how its registrants are currently using AI and has said it plans to publish new information to help professionals apply its existing standards when using AI in day-to-day practice. More information on the HCPC’s work on AI is available on its website.
The IBMS has previously responded to the Commission’s work, highlighting the importance of professional judgement, real-world validation and ongoing monitoring as AI becomes more widely used in biomedical science. Members can read the IBMS response to the Commission’s findings.