A legal survey of the regulatory and bioethical issues associated with the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare service delivery in Nigeria

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be contextually explained as machines that mimic human or animal cognitive capacity cum activities.  Artificial Intelligence applications have progressed from the experimental phase to the implementation phase in daily life activities, and  various fields of human endeavour, including research and healthcare service delivery. This Paper interrogates, in the main, the  application of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare service delivery, especially in medically assisted human reproduction, the benefits it  provides, the challenges associated with its use, and the bioethical issues associated with its application in patient care; the main focus of  the Paper is Nigeria. The paper adopted a doctrinal research method. The study finds inter alia that there is a dearth of materials on the  regulatory framework for the use of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare practice, despite the obvious bioethical concerns associated  therewith. It is concluded that there is a need for the application of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare delivery to be within the bounds of  law and ethical practice. Accordingly, the Paper recommends that various countries and jurisdictions should endeavour to intentionally  establish adequate legal, regulatory, and national digital policy frameworks for regulating the implementation and monitoring of the use  of digital health strategies for improved care and access, reduced cost, and protection of patients’ rights.