Artificial intelligence in the activities of medical research: a new challenge

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Marco Faryd Flores Reyes, a Physician and researcher. Academic Unit of Medicine. Autonomous University of Nayarit. Mexico. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an innovative technology, developed to imitate the functions cognitive abilities of the human being. (Martorell, 2022). AI is increasingly entering our lives faster and faster 

imperceptible way, to the point of being essential in several sectors including the health area. However, it also generates debates about its ethical and legal implications, focusing on its impact on the construction of inclusive communities or on increasing inequalities, since AI is now an integral part of our society.

Pujol (2023) states that current medicine is based on artificial intelligence, because despite being in development, AI in health has favored the acquisition of clinical skills and surgical procedures among fellows, proving to reduce risks for patients. Nevertheless, the technological illiteracy and the challenges of adapting to these technologies remain obstacles in the medical field. Fortunately, medical research and dissemination has new technologies have had an important impact on the development of cognitive skills, if its ethical and rational use is promoted.

Medical research since the pandemic the COVID-19 pandemic demanded sustainable development through quality research, favored by changes in global health, human development, generational change and adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence. (Gómez, 2021). 

Technological illiteracy in the health area. Today, being literate implies not only knowing how to read and write, but also using technologies so as not to be excluded from current communication. It is estimated that the limitations in the knowledge of new technologies arise from economic inequality, conflicts generations and resistance to technology. (Matamala, 2018).

Research with AI and its ethical use the relationship between ethics and artificial intelligence in medicine is a complex issue that generates divided opinions and different interpretations. (England, 2024). With the advent of AI, must guarantee security and equity in its use, since it unquestionably has a great potential in the development of scientific texts, bibliographic management, databases and dissemination that undeniably need an ethical approach in their deployment.

Challenges to face in the field of medicine, artificial intelligence offers unprecedented opportunities in scientific dissemination and education of scholarship holders in the health area. Nonetheless, it faces challenges such as technological illiteracy and social inequality. Therefore, it is necessary promote the recognition of new technologies from basic education, under the principles of responsibility, honesty and justice to overcome these obstacles. a clear an example of the benefits of AI within medical-scientific dissemination is the generation of digital and audiovisual content accessible to all ages without the need for a large economic investment or a specialized profile. Artificial intelligence is a tool that is here to stay, our responsibility is to make good use of it.

References

1. Gómez Rivas, J., Toribio Vázquez, C., Ballesteros Ruiz, C., Taratkin, M., Marenco, J. L., Cacciamani, G. E., Checcucci, E., Okhunov, Z., Enikeev, D., Esperto, F., Grossmann, R., Somani, B., & Veneziano, D. (2021). Artificial intelligence and simulation in urology. Inteligencia artificial y simulación en urología. Actas urologicas espanolas, S0210-4806(21)00088-7. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acuro.2020.10.012 
2. ‌Inglada Galiana, L., Corral Gudino, L., & Miramontes González, P. (2024). Ethics and artificial intelligence. Revista clinica espanola, S2254-8874(24)00021-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rceng.2024.02.003 
3. Martorell, A., Martin-Gorgojo, A., Ríos-Viñuela, E., Rueda-Carnero, J. M., Alfageme, F., & Taberner, R. (2022). Artificial Intelligence in Dermatology: A Threat or an Opportunity? Inteligencia artificial en dermatología: ¿amenaza u oportunidad?. Actas dermo-sifiliograficas, 113(1), 30–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ad.2021.07.003 
4. Matamala, C. (2018). Desarrollo de alfabetización digital ¿Cuáles son las estrategias de los profesores para enseñar habilidades de información? Perfiles educativos, 40(162), 68-85. http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0185-26982018000400068&lng=es&tlng=es. 
5. Pujol Farriols, R., & Guanyabens Calvet, J. (2023). Medicine in times of artificial intelligence. La medicina en tiempos de inteligencia artificial. Medicina clinica, 161(12), 530–532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medcli.2023.09.007 

About the author

Marco Faryd Flores Reyes is a Physician and researcher. Academic Unit of Medicine. Autonomous University of Nayarit. Mexico. City of Culture “Amado Nervo” S/N, Tepic, Nayarit. Mexico. Juan Escutia Health Center with Extended Services. Health Services of the State of Nayarit. Clinical Research Division. Av. Juan Escutia S/N. Tepic, Nayarit. Mexico.