Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian Practice

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining an increasing amount of influence in various fields, including medicine. In radiology, where diagnoses are based on collaboration between diagnostic devices and the professional experience of radiologists, AI intervent...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ana-Maria Ungureanu, Sergiu-Ciprian Matei, Daniel Malita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/2/230
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832588729790758912
author Ana-Maria Ungureanu
Sergiu-Ciprian Matei
Daniel Malita
author_facet Ana-Maria Ungureanu
Sergiu-Ciprian Matei
Daniel Malita
author_sort Ana-Maria Ungureanu
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining an increasing amount of influence in various fields, including medicine. In radiology, where diagnoses are based on collaboration between diagnostic devices and the professional experience of radiologists, AI intervention seems much easier than in other fields, but this is often not the case. Many times, the patients orient themselves according to the doctor, which is not applicable in the case of AI. Another limitation rests in the controversies regarding medico-legal liability. In the field of radio-imaging in Romania, the implementation of AI systems in diagnosis is at its beginning. An important aspect of this is raising awareness among the population about these assistive AI systems and, also, awareness of the technological evolution of AI among medical staff. This narrative review manuscript analyzes the existing literature data regarding the medico-legal aspects of AI application in radiology, highlighting the controversial aspects and the lack of statutory legislative regulations in Romania. <b>Methods</b>: A detailed search was conducted across three electronic databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with 53 papers serving as the literature corpus of our review. <b>Results</b>: General requirements for artificial intelligence systems used in radiology have been established. In the radiological diagnostic process, there are five levels of AI system implication. Until now, completely autonomous AI systems have not been used. Regarding liability in the case of malpractice, at the currently accepted legislative level, most of the time, the radiologist is liable for their own fault or non-compliant use of diagnostic AI systems. Controversies arise in the case of radio-imaging diagnosis in which AI systems act autonomously. <b>Conclusions</b>: In order for AI diagnostic radio-imaging systems to be implemented, they must meet certain quality standards and be approved. The radiologist must know these systems, accept them, know their limits, and validate them in accordance with their degree of involvement in radiological diagnosis. Considering the evolution of technology in the Romanian medical system, including radiology, in the future, an alignment with the legal standards established/proposed at the European level is desired.
format Article
id doaj-art-d3cd81cf53ea425c8f1bf8d5e0f43d86
institution Kabale University
issn 2075-4418
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Diagnostics
spelling doaj-art-d3cd81cf53ea425c8f1bf8d5e0f43d862025-01-24T13:29:11ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-01-0115223010.3390/diagnostics15020230Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian PracticeAna-Maria Ungureanu0Sergiu-Ciprian Matei1Daniel Malita2Department XV, Clinic of Radiology and Medical Imaging, “VictorBabes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaAbdominal Surgery and Phlebology Research Center, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment XV, Clinic of Radiology and Medical Imaging, “VictorBabes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining an increasing amount of influence in various fields, including medicine. In radiology, where diagnoses are based on collaboration between diagnostic devices and the professional experience of radiologists, AI intervention seems much easier than in other fields, but this is often not the case. Many times, the patients orient themselves according to the doctor, which is not applicable in the case of AI. Another limitation rests in the controversies regarding medico-legal liability. In the field of radio-imaging in Romania, the implementation of AI systems in diagnosis is at its beginning. An important aspect of this is raising awareness among the population about these assistive AI systems and, also, awareness of the technological evolution of AI among medical staff. This narrative review manuscript analyzes the existing literature data regarding the medico-legal aspects of AI application in radiology, highlighting the controversial aspects and the lack of statutory legislative regulations in Romania. <b>Methods</b>: A detailed search was conducted across three electronic databases including MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with 53 papers serving as the literature corpus of our review. <b>Results</b>: General requirements for artificial intelligence systems used in radiology have been established. In the radiological diagnostic process, there are five levels of AI system implication. Until now, completely autonomous AI systems have not been used. Regarding liability in the case of malpractice, at the currently accepted legislative level, most of the time, the radiologist is liable for their own fault or non-compliant use of diagnostic AI systems. Controversies arise in the case of radio-imaging diagnosis in which AI systems act autonomously. <b>Conclusions</b>: In order for AI diagnostic radio-imaging systems to be implemented, they must meet certain quality standards and be approved. The radiologist must know these systems, accept them, know their limits, and validate them in accordance with their degree of involvement in radiological diagnosis. Considering the evolution of technology in the Romanian medical system, including radiology, in the future, an alignment with the legal standards established/proposed at the European level is desired.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/2/230artificial intelligenceliabilitymalpracticemisdiagnosismedico-legalradiological diagnosis
spellingShingle Ana-Maria Ungureanu
Sergiu-Ciprian Matei
Daniel Malita
Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian Practice
Diagnostics
artificial intelligence
liability
malpractice
misdiagnosis
medico-legal
radiological diagnosis
title Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian Practice
title_full Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian Practice
title_fullStr Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian Practice
title_full_unstemmed Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian Practice
title_short Controversies in the Application of AI in Radiology—Is There Medico-Legal Support? Aspects from Romanian Practice
title_sort controversies in the application of ai in radiology is there medico legal support aspects from romanian practice
topic artificial intelligence
liability
malpractice
misdiagnosis
medico-legal
radiological diagnosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/2/230
work_keys_str_mv AT anamariaungureanu controversiesintheapplicationofaiinradiologyistheremedicolegalsupportaspectsfromromanianpractice
AT sergiuciprianmatei controversiesintheapplicationofaiinradiologyistheremedicolegalsupportaspectsfromromanianpractice
AT danielmalita controversiesintheapplicationofaiinradiologyistheremedicolegalsupportaspectsfromromanianpractice