##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##

Published May 27, 2026

Ádám Kovács  

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care, but it also raises critical questions about autonomy. AI-based systems can analyze vast datasets, identify patterns beyond human perception, and provide predictive insights, offering unprecedented support to clinicians and patients. However, as AI assumes greater decision-making roles, concerns emerge regarding patient autonomy, clinician authority, and the ethical delegation of responsibility. This article argues that while AI can enhance healthcare efficiency and precision, it should complement rather than replace human judgment. Maintaining autonomy requires transparent algorithms, explainable AI, informed patient consent, and clear boundaries for AI intervention. Balancing the benefits of AI with ethical and regulatory oversight is essential to preserve trust, accountability, and human-centered care. By critically examining autonomy in AI-driven healthcare, stakeholders can harness innovation responsibly while safeguarding patient rights and clinical integrity.

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##

Keywords

AI in Healthcare, Autonomy, Ethics, Patient-Centered Care, Clinical Decision-Making

Supporting Agencies

No funding source declared.

References
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Doshi-Velez, F., & Kim, B. (2017). Towards a rigorous science of interpretable machine learning. arXiv preprint arXiv:1702.08608.

Elwyn, G., Frosch, D., Thomson, R., Joseph-Williams, N., Lloyd, A., Kinnersley, P., … Barry, M. (2012). Shared decision making: A model for clinical practice. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 27(10), 1361–1367. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-012-2077-6

Floridi, L., Cowls, J., Beltrametti, M., Chatila, R., Chazerand, P., Dignum, V., … Vayena, E. (2018). AI4People—An ethical framework for a good AI society. Minds and Machines, 28(4), 689–707. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11023-018-9482-5

Goddard, K., Roudsari, A., & Wyatt, J. C. (2012). Automation bias: A systematic review of frequency, effect mediators, and mitigators. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 19(1), 121–127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/amiajnl-2011-000089

Jiang, F., Jiang, Y., Zhi, H., Dong, Y., Li, H., Ma, S., … Wang, Y. (2017). Artificial intelligence in healthcare: Past, present and future. Stroke and Vascular Neurology, 2(4), 230–243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/svn-2017-000101

Longoni, C., Bonezzi, A., & Morewedge, C. K. (2019). Resistance to medical artificial intelligence. Journal of Consumer Research, 46(4), 629–650. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucz013

Mittelstadt, B. D., Allo, P., Taddeo, M., Wachter, S., & Floridi, L. (2016). The ethics of algorithms: Mapping the debate. Big Data & Society, 3(2), 1–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951716679679

Obermeyer, Z., & Emanuel, E. J. (2016). Predicting the future—Big data, machine learning, and clinical medicine. The New England Journal of Medicine, 375(13), 1216–1219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1606181

Obermeyer, Z., Powers, B., Vogeli, C., & Mullainathan, S. (2019). Dissecting racial bias in an algorithm used to manage the health of populations. Science, 366(6464), 447–453. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax2342

Rajkomar, A., Dean, J., & Kohane, I. (2019). Machine learning in medicine. The New England Journal of Medicine, 380(14), 1347–1358. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1814259

Topol, E. (2019). Deep medicine: How artificial intelligence can make healthcare human again. Basic Books.

World Health Organization. (2021). Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health. WHO Press.
How to Cite
Kovács, Ádám. (2026). Autonomy and AI-Based Healthcare. Science Insights, 48(5), 2207–2210. https://doi.org/10.15354/si.26.op155
Section
Opinion