Navigating the ethical landscape of AI in healthcare

Navigating the ethical landscape of AI in healthcare

Navigating the ethical landscape of AI in healthcare
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In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, artificial intelligence stands as both hero and villain. Its promise of efficiency and accuracy is marred by the lurking specter of bias, especially in the delicate realm of healthcare.

So, buckle up, dear readers, as we embark on a rollercoaster ride through the wild world of AI and ethics, where laughter meets seriousness, and where the absurdity of biases meets the gravity of healthcare.

In the bustling city of Techville, the future unfolds daily, with advancements in AI revolutionizing industries. However, behind the marvels lies a shadow: the issue of bias. Today, we delve into the heart of this matter, focusing on its implications in the realm of healthcare.

As I walked through the corridors of TechMed, a state-of-the-art hospital, I couldn’t help but ponder the ethical implications of AI in healthcare. Dr. Emily, a seasoned physician, shared her insights, stating, “While AI promises efficiency and precision, it’s crucial to acknowledge its potential biases, particularly in medical diagnoses.”

Picture this: Dr. Watson, the AI wizard, struts into the hospital, armed with algorithms and a penchant for diagnosing ailments quicker than you can say “hypochondriac.” But alas, even our dear Dr. Watson isn’t immune to the pitfalls of bias. Take poor Mr. Johnson, for instance. He came into the clinic complaining of a tummy ache, only to be diagnosed with a case of “pizza-itis” by the ever-enthusiastic AI, which had been fed a steady diet of fast-food-related data.

Needless to say, Mr. Johnson’s gluten intolerance wasn’t part of the algorithm’s repertoire.

But fear not, for amid the chaos, there are voices of reason. Dr. Emily, the wise sage of the medical world, warns, “While AI can be a game-changer, we must be vigilant about the biases lurking within its circuits. After all, nobody wants to be prescribed kale smoothies for a broken leg.”

We must hold AI accountable for its biases, for in the realm of healthcare, there’s no room for error.

Rafael Hernández de Santiago

Meet Ms. Smith, a diligent worker and devoted mother. She sought medical advice for her persistent headaches. The AI algorithm swiftly diagnosed her with stress-related issues, prescribing medication accordingly. However, Ms. Smith’s condition worsened, ultimately leading to a severe neurological disorder. The AI had overlooked critical symptoms, influenced by biased data sets skewed toward stress-related diagnoses in working women.

As Ms. Smith’s story unfolded, it echoed a prevalent concern: the impact of biased algorithms on patient outcomes. Dr. Patel, an advocate for AI ethics, emphasized, “We must scrutinize the data feeding these algorithms to prevent such oversights.”

As we navigate the minefield of AI biases, we can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. From gender biases leading to misdiagnoses to racial disparities in treatment recommendations, the comedy of errors is as vast as the datasets themselves. But beneath the laughter lies a sobering reality: Lives hang in the balance, and the consequences of biased algorithms can be dire.

Enter Dr. Patel, the comic relief in our tale, with his witty retorts and a knack for cutting through the nonsense. “It’s like letting a toddler loose in a candy store,” he quips. “Sure, it’s fun at first, but someone’s bound to end up with a stomachache.”

Yet, amid the laughter, there’s a call to action. Dr. Kim, the voice of reason in our comedic ensemble, urges us to take a stand. “We must hold AI accountable for its biases,” she declares, “for in the realm of healthcare, there’s no room for error.”

In the pursuit of ethical AI, collaboration is key. Tech giants, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and ethicists must unite to establish stringent guidelines and oversight mechanisms. Transparency in algorithmic decision-making and continuous monitoring of biases are essential steps toward ethical AI implementation in healthcare.

As the sun set over Techville, illuminating the skyline, I pondered the path ahead. The journey to ethical AI in healthcare is fraught with challenges, but with unwavering commitment and collective action, we can pave the way for a future where technology serves all, without bias or prejudice.

And so, dear readers, as we bid adieu to our cast of characters and the absurdity of AI biases, let us heed the words of wisdom from the great Arab philosopher, Ibn Khaldun: “In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?” Let us strive for a future where AI serves as a beacon of hope, untainted by bias, and where healthcare remains a sanctuary for all, regardless of algorithms gone awry.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840
Updated 6 min ago
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840
  • Parallel market Nomu gained 681.17 points, or 2.28%, to close at 30,540.28
  • MSCI Tadawul Index lost 4.52 points, or 0.30%, to close at 1,486.82

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Thursday, losing 27.40 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 11,840.52. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.39 billion ($1.43 billion), as 98 of the stocks advanced and 131 retreated. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 681.17 points, or 2.28 percent, to close at 30,540.28. This comes as 63 of the listed stocks advanced, while 23 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 4.52 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 1,486.82. 

The best-performing stock of the day was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co., whose share price surged 10 percent to SR0.33. 

Other strong performers included Saudi Reinsurance Co., with a 7.05 percent increase in its share price to SR43.30, and Saudi Chemical Co., which saw its share price rise 5.46 percent to SR10.24. 

Saudi Cable Co. recorded the largest decline, with its share price dropping 4.02 percent to SR97.90. 

CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. also saw its stock fall 3.13 percent to SR49.50. 

Naseej International Trading Co. experienced a 2.64 percent drop in its share price, which fell to SR92.30. 

On the announcements front, Saudi Awwal Bank has disclosed its intention to issue an SR-denominated Additional Tier 1 Sukuk through a private placement in the Kingdom, as part of its SR20 billion Additional Tier 1 Sukuk issuance program. 

According to a Tadawul statement, the bank has appointed HSBC Saudi Arabia as the sole lead manager for the proposed offer. The statement said the purpose of the issuance is to strengthen the bank’s capital base and support the achievement of its long-term strategic objectives. 

The amount and terms of the sukuk will be determined at a later stage, based on market conditions at that time. 

Saudi Awwal Bank closed the session at SR31.40, down 0.63 percent. 

The Saudi Investment Bank has announced the completion of its US dollar-denominated Additional Tier 1 capital sustainable sukuk offering under its Additional Tier 1 capital sukuk program. 

A bourse filing revealed that the offer is valued at $750 million, comprising 3,750 sukuk with a par value of $200,000 each and a return of 6.275 percent. 

The sukuk have a perpetual maturity, callable after five years. Settlement of the sukuk issuance is scheduled for Nov. 27, and the sukuk will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market. 

Saudi Investment Bank closed the session at SR13.88, down 0.29 percent. 


International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis

International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis
Updated 6 min 28 sec ago
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International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis

International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis
  • Buraidah Oasis serves as a giant reservoir that absorbs carbon emissions
  • Oasis is home to a million trees, surrounding a lake holding 86,000 cubic meters of treated water

RIYADH: Buraidah Oasis has received international accreditation for its water and carbon sustainability, reported Saudi Press Agency.

The site’s carbon footprint report, certified by a German government board, revealed it has zero emissions and serves as a giant reservoir that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere at a rate of 0.12 percent per year.

The certificate of accreditation was presented to National Water Company CEO Fuad Al-Sheikh Mubarak.

As the first anniversary since its launch approaches, a spokesperson for the National Water Company-sponsored project described the oasis as one of the Kingdom’s “most important projects related to environmental sustainability efforts.”

The Buraidah Oasis is home to a million trees, surrounding a lake holding 86,000 cubic meters of treated water produced from the National Water Company’s plant — part of its vision for sustainability and environmental regeneration.

Irrigated with recycled water from the treatment plant, the project forms part of the company’s contribution to the Saudi Green Initiative. 

A reem antelope sanctuary was recently opened in the oasis, with 15 antelopes recently released into the sanctuary which occupies an area of 50,000 square meters.

Earlier in October, Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said that the biodiversity of the oasis was assessed regularly to determine the importance of releasing endangered species, including both resident and migratory animals.


At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan

At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan
Updated 9 min 26 sec ago
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At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan

At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan
  • No one immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attack
  • Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said at least 38 people were killed in the “terrorist attack“

PESHAWAR: Gunmen opened fire on vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims in Pakistan’s restive northwest on Thursday, killing at least 38 people, including six women, and wounding 20 others in one of the region’s deadliest such attacks in recent years, police said.
The attack happened in Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where sectarian clashes between majority Sunni Muslims and minority Shiites have killed dozens of people in recent months.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attack. It came a week after authorities reopened a key highway in the region that had been closed for weeks following deadly clashes.
Local police official Azmat Ali said several vehicles were traveling in a convoy from the city of Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when gunmen opened fire. He said at least 10 passengers were in critical condition at a hospital.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said at least 38 people were killed in the “terrorist attack.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, and Sharif said those behind the killing of innocent civilians will not go unpunished.
A witness, 35-year-old Mir Hussain, said he saw four gunmen emerge from a vehicle and open fire on buses and cars.
“I think other people were also firing at the convoy of vehicles from nearby open farm field,” he said. “The firing continued for about 40 minutes.” He said he hid until the attackers fled.
“I heard cries of women, and people were shouting for the help,” he said.
Baqir Haideri, a local Shiite leader, denounced the assault and said the death toll was likely to rise.
Shop owners in Parachinar announced a strike on Friday to protest the attack.
Shiite Muslims make up about 15 percent of the 240 million population of Sunni-majority Pakistan, which has a history of sectarian animosity between the communities.
Although they live together largely peacefully, tensions have existed for decades in some areas, especially in parts of Kurram, where Shiites are the majority. Nearly 50 people from both sides were killed over a land dispute in July when clashes between Sunni and Shiites erupted in Kurram.
Pakistan is tackling violence in the northwest and southwest, where militants and separatists often target police, troops and civilians. Most of the violence in these areas has been blamed on the Pakistani Taliban and the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army.


Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel

Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel
Updated 17 min 21 sec ago
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Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel

Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel
  • Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported three raids “within the third round of strikes on the southern suburbs today“
  • AFPTV footage showed columns of smoke rising from the area, usually a densely populated residential district but now largely emptied

BEIRUT: Successive rounds of Israeli strikes hit Hezbollah’s southern Beirut stronghold Thursday after Israeli military evacuation warnings, while Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks including on a base near south Israel’s Ashdod, its deepest so far.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported three raids “within the third round of strikes on the southern suburbs today,” saying they hit the Haret Hreik and Hadath areas.
It had earlier reported two other rounds of three raids each on the southern suburbs, including a “very violent strike” on Haret Hreik and a raid on the Kafaat neighborhood that destroyed a building and damaged others nearby.
AFPTV footage showed columns of smoke rising from the area, usually a densely populated residential district but now largely emptied.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee on social media platform X issued several rounds of evacuation warnings for areas in the southern suburbs, saying the military would target Hezbollah “facilities and interests,” pinpointing six buildings.
The Israeli military in a statement said its air force carried out strikes on “Hezbollah command centers and terror infrastructure” in the southern suburbs, which it has hit repeatedly since September 23 when it escalated air raids against the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks on Israeli troops in south Lebanon and on military facilities across the border including a drone attack on the Haifa naval base, which it has repeatedly claimed strikes against.
The group also said its fighters “targeted... for the first time, the Hatzor air base” near the southern city of Ashdod, around 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, “with a missile salvo.”
Israeli first responders said a man was killed on Thursday after rocket fire from Lebanon hit the Galilee region in Israel’s north.
The renewed Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs came after two days of relative calm in Beirut and its suburbs while US envoy Amos Hochstein visited, seeking to broker an end to the almost two-month-long Israel-Hezbollah war.
Hochstein was to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, the premier’s office said.
The Israeli army also issued evacuation warnings for areas in and around the southern coastal city of Tyre, while the NNA reported Israeli strikes in south and east Lebanon.
Lebanon’s health ministry said on Wednesday that at least 3,558 people had been killed in the violence since October 2023.
Most of the deaths have been since September this year, when Israel began its massive bombing campaign and later sent ground forces in to Lebanon.
The Israeli military said Wednesday that three soldiers, including a 70-year-old, were killed in south Lebanon, bringing to 52 the number killed in Lebanon since the start of ground operations.


WHO chief released from hospital in Rio de Janeiro

WHO chief released from hospital in Rio de Janeiro
Updated 24 min 21 sec ago
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WHO chief released from hospital in Rio de Janeiro

WHO chief released from hospital in Rio de Janeiro
  • According to the hospital, Tedros was admitted on Wednesday afternoon
  • He “underwent all the necessary tests, which confirmed clinical indicators with no signs of seriousness”

SAO PAULO: World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been released from Rio de Janeiro’s Hospital Samaritano Barra da Tijuca after spending the night under observation, the hospital said.
According to the hospital, Tedros was admitted on Wednesday afternoon and “underwent all the necessary tests, which confirmed clinical indicators with no signs of seriousness, and was discharged from hospital this morning.”
Local newspaper O Globo had reported earlier on Thursday that Tedros sought medical attention at the facility with “symptoms of labyrinthitis and an hypertensive crisis,” after showing signs of being unwell earlier this week on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
According to the report, Tedros was examined on Monday by health professionals on duty at the G20 summit and given medicine for high blood pressure, but was released once he was stable.
The G20 summit in Rio ended this week with calls for cooperation on climate change, poverty reduction and tax policy.