AI only an assistant, legal responsibility lies with doctors: Supreme Court Judge

Hyderabad: While acknowledging the impact of technology and artificial intelligence in the field of medicine, the Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan recently sought to remind the medical practitioners that the legal responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment of patients will remain on them and not the machines.

Justice Bhuyan expressed this opinion while speaking at the two-day Commonwealth Medical AI Global Summit in Hyderabad. While pointing out that the growth of technology, which is rapidly transforming the healthcare sector, cannot be reversed, he also highlighted the drawbacks associated with it.

"Artificial Intelligence at the bedside raises critical questions — who is liable when machines decide, and what are the legal consequences? Technology’s march is irreversible, affecting governments, businesses and citizens alike," Justice Bhuyan said at the Summit.

"While AI is reshaping global healthcare, it also comes with drawbacks. Whether it is Alexa or Siri, these tools are already influencing our lives. Regulators are formulating guidelines, but they clearly state that AI remains only an assistant — the final responsibility always lies with the licensed medical practitioner," he further mentioned.

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According to the latest media report by Deccan Chronicle, citing global examples, Justice Bhuyan further pointed out that Google's AI systems have faced legal challenges related to privacy violations, data misuse, and questions regarding patient consent. He stated that these issues highlight growing concerns as major tech companies invest deeply in health technology, raising social and legal implications related to the Right to Life.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue of the integration of artificial intelligence, the President of the London Commonwealth Association, Dr. J. A. Jayalal, said that thousands of Indian doctors have received training through expert-led programmes to help them integrate AI tools safely and effectively into clinical practice.

During the summit, around 750 doctors who completed the Commonwealth AI and Digital Health Course were awarded fellowship certificates during the closing ceremony.

According to Dr. Prabhu Kumar Challagali, the convener of the Commonwealth Medical Association, this was the first-ever Commonwealth Medical AI Global Summit conducted in Asia.

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