Doctors must retain final say on AI in healthcare, medical leaders agree

Medical educators and technology leaders have agreed that artificial intelligence must function as a support system rather than a substitute for physician judgment, with doctors retaining final authority over all clinical decisions.

The consensus emerged during a webinar titled "The Future Doctor: Balancing Clinical Experience with Technology," organised by SRM Institute of Science and Technology in partnership with The Hindu. The panel brought together R. Jayanthi, Dean of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre; Vivek N, Dean (Dental) at SRM Kattankulathur Dental College and Hospital; Ritubhan Gautam, Head, Global Health at Deep Tek.ai; and K. Ganapathy, Honorary Distinguished Professor at IIM Jammu and Distinguished Professor at Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University.

Medical education must prioritise verification skills

Dr. Jayanthi emphasised that while AI has become embedded in healthcare and medical education, institutions must equip students with "AI literacy" and a robust "verification reflex". She said medical students need to cross-check AI-generated information against trusted sources to prevent erosion of clinical reasoning and critical thinking.

Technology cannot shoulder clinical responsibility

K. Ganapathy warned that physicians must never delegate their accountability to AI systems, regardless of how sophisticated the technology becomes. He stressed the need to strengthen judgment, empathy and the ability to ask appropriate clinical questions while evaluating whether an AI prediction applies to a specific patient and context.

In dental practice, Vivek N noted that AI is automating significant portions of diagnosis and treatment workflows, yet the technology remains a decision-support tool. The final clinical decision, he said, must rest with the dentist.

Expanding access in underserved regions

From a public health standpoint, Gautam described AI as a "force multiplier" in areas facing shortages of specialist clinicians. The technology can improve screening accessibility in rural and underserved communities and help triage patients who need immediate attention. However, he cautioned that accuracy, bias and clinical oversight remain critical factors that cannot be overlooked.

The session was moderated by Geetha Srimathi, senior reporter at The Hindu, and the webinar recording is available at https://newsth.live/THSRMFY.

Source: The Hindu