Berna Arda

ABSTRACT

An Ethical Analysis of the AI Values/Principles in “Turkey's AI strategy Plan” for  Improving Patients' Access to Health Care

Assistant Professor Banu Buruk

TOBB ETU University School of Medicine

Professor Berna Arda

TOBB ETU University School of Medicine

Turkish National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (TNAIS) has been prepared in line with the 11th Development Plan and the Presidential Annual Programs of the Republic of Turkey. The purpose of this strategy report is to describe the methods of determining national strategic AI priorities and set these priorities. In this report, according to the patent applications between 1980 and 2016, it is stated that the fields in which AI technologies are applied the most are communication (24%), transportation (24%) and health sciences (19%). Therefore, it is seen that almost 1/5 of all AI technologies are applied in the field of health science. It can be evaluated that AI technologies used in the field of health have a special place in the scope of the TNAIS report. The report covers four ethical values including (1) respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, (2) improving the environment and biological ecosystem, (3) ensuring diversity and inclusion, and (4) living in peaceful, just and cohesive societies; and eight ethical principles including (1) proportionality, (2) safety and security, (3) fairness, (4) privacy, (5) transparency and explainability, (6) responsibility and accountability, (7) data sovereignty, and (8) multi-stakeholder governance. Consequently, in this study, the TNAIS report will be analyzed based on the ethical values and principles it contains within the scope of patients' access to healthcare. Then the current or prospective ethical issues emerging from the existence of AI technology used in healthcare will be addressed. Finally, the suggestions about the perspectives for approaching ethical issues when these values and principles are in conflict will be shared.

BIO

Berna ARDA studied medicine and medical ethics at Ankara University School of Medicine. (MD 1987, MedSpec 1990, PhD 1993). She was assigned to a full professor position in 1999. She served as associate editor for Turkish Journal of Medical Ethics (1994-99) and as a member of Higher Council of Health in 2007 - 2008. She worked as a member of the Turkish High Council of Universities, Ethical Commission (2003 - 2009, 2015-2016) and UNESCO Turkey National Commission, Bioethics Specialization Committee (2006 - 2014). She was elected to the Honorary Committee of the Ankara Chamber of Medicine (1998 - 2002) and the Turkish Medical Association High Disciplinary Council (2008-2012). She is one of the Governors since 2006 and was elected as a vice - president of WAML (World Association for Medical Law) in 2010, serving as Treasurer in EC  of WAML since 2018. Dr. Arda is the chair of 26th World Congress for Medical Law, in Istanbul, 4-6 August 2021. She is one of the founders of  International Association of Ethics Education (IAEE)  and the chair of board for the 2012-20. Dr. Arda was a visiting scientist at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in 2015. She was a guest professor at University College London in 2008. She served as an expert for collecting data for Turkey on UNESCO GEOBS Database 4; Ethics-related legislation and guidelines. Dr. Arda has been involved in a  NIH/Fogarty project; "International Research Ethics Initiative Turkey/Central Asia" as  national advisor. Berna Arda gives undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the School of Medicine as well as "Bioethics and Woman” course at the Department of Woman Studies master program.