AI ethics in Catholic health
More than 150 healthcare providers and administrators, technology experts, theologians, and church leaders from around the country attended a conference last month at Boston College that explored the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence in Catholic healthcare settings. “Artificial Intelligence, Authentic Mercy: Navigating AI Ethics in Catholic Health” was convened by Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health Executive Director Daniel Daly, who is an associate professor of moral theology at the Clough School of Theology and Ministry.
The two-day event was organized and supported by the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health, with additional support from the Institute for the Liberal Arts at Boston College.
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Daniel Daly (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
“This was a landmark conference,” said Daly. “Before this, there hadn’t been a conference looking at AI ethics and Catholic healthcare in the United States. As AI is being used in more healthcare spaces, the goal of this conference was to cultivate a conversation among thought leaders in the AI and Catholic healthcare spaces, to look at the ethical implications of AI, and to provide some guidance on where we ought to be going.”
The keynote address, “AI and Medicine: The Challenge of Human Dignity,” was given by Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, who is leading the way on the Vatican’s work on AI in healthcare.
Daly presented a white paper being developed by a working group he is leading on AI ethics in Catholic health. Conference attendees offered perspectives and feedback that will be considered for the final version of the white paper.
A number of papers were presented on topics such as mission and alignment, theology and social ethics, patient-professional relationship, and regulating AI. Theology Department Chair and Michael P. Walsh Professor of Bioethics Andrea Vicini, S.J., gave a paper on "AI in Healthcare: Environmental Challenges."
The presentations were followed by a roundtable discussion on “The Future of AI in Catholic Health,” moderated by Daly. Connell School of Nursing Associate Professor of the Practice Aimee Milliken was joined on the panel by Brian Anderson, M.D., president & CEO, Coalition for Health AI; Sr. Ilia Delio, O.S.F., (Villanova University); Rod Hochman, M.D., CEO Emeritus, Providence Health; and Michael Pencina (Duke University School of Medicine).
“This was a landmark conference. Before this, there hadn’t been a conference looking at AI ethics and Catholic healthcare in the United States.”
“What was remarkable about the conference was that we had an incredibly diverse group of people contributing,” said Daly. “We had physicians and nurses, healthcare administrators, theologians and ethicists, bishops, tech developers and C-suite executives in the tech industry, and researchers and academics. They made the conference so rich.”
At the conclusion of the conference, Daly presented a statement that summarized some general ethical norms around the topic of AI and healthcare and asked for conference participants to endorse it.
The norms were:
- AI use must promote patient well-being and whole-person flourishing.
- AI use must enhance, not erode, the quality of the patient-professional relationship.
- AI use should expand access to care, especially for those who lack it.
- AI must be actively monitored to reduce bias and prevent the widening of healthcare inequalities.
- Human decision-makers must remain responsible and accountable for all healthcare actions.
- Healthcare professionals should not delegate moral responsibility to algorithms.
- AI use should promote the well-being of healthcare professionals, administrators, and staff, respecting the dignity of their work.
- The environmental impact of AI tools should be acknowledged and mitigated.
“It was important that the conference offered good conversations and insights so participants can return to their respective organizations galvanized and better equipped to deal with these topics, but I also wanted the conference to produce something that could help educate and shape the culture about AI and Catholic healthcare in the general public,” added Daly.
“I think a lot of people feel disenfranchised around how AI is pushing into aspects of their lives. But, ultimately, it’s the public—not the technology giants—that needs to drive this conversation. It needs to be participatory.”
The conference concluded with Mass at St. Ignatius Church, presided by Archbishop of Seattle Paul D. Etienne.