Citation: The international journal of medical robotics and computer assisted surgery. 2018 Nov 5, e1968. [Epub ahead of print]
Author: O'Sullivan S, Nevejans N, Allen C, Blyth A, Leonard S, Pagallo U, Holzinger K, Holzinger A, Sajid MI, Ashrafian H
Abstract: BACKGROUND: This paper aims to move the debate forward regarding the potential of AI and autonomous robotic surgery with a particular focus on ethical and legal aspects.
METHODS: We conducted a literature search on current and emerging surgical robot technologies, relevant standards and legal systems worldwide. We provide a discussion of unique challenges for robotic surgery faced by proposals made for AI more generally (e.g. Explainable AI) as well as recommendations for developing/improving relevant standards or legal and regulatory frameworks.
CONCLUSION: We distinguished three types of robot responsibility by classifying responsibility into: I. Accountability; II. Liability and III. Culpability. The component which produces the least clarity is Culpability, since it is unthinkable in the current state of technology. We envision in the nearer future that, as with autonomous driving, a robot can learn routine tasks which can then be supervised by the surgeon (a doctor-in-the-loop) being in the driving seat.
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