A Black Box for Patient Safety?

Authors

Nathan Cortez, Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of LawFollow

Abstract

Technology now makes it possible to record surgical procedures with striking granularity. And new methods of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and machine learning allow data from surgeries to be used to identify and predict errors. These technologies are now being deployed, on a research basis, in hospitals around the world, including in U.S. hospitals. This Article evaluates whether such recordings – and whether subsequent software analyses of such recordings – are discoverable and admissible in U.S. courts in medical malpractice actions. I then argue for reformulating traditional "information policy" to accommodate the use of these new technologies without losing sight of patient safety concerns and patient legal rights.

Publication Title

DePaul Law Review

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Medical Malpractice, Patient Safety, Quality, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Torts, Malpractice, Health Care

Recommended Citation

Nathan Cortez, A Black Box for Patient Safety, 68 DePaul L. Rev. 239 (2019)