Informed Consent for AI-Assisted Diagnosis: Do Patients Have the Right to Refuse Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Decision-Making?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65815/38p7x443Keywords:
Informed consent, artificial intelligence, patient autonomy, clinical decision-making, digital healthAbstract
Artificial intelligence is increasingly incorporated into diagnostic and clinical decision-making processes, creating new challenges for the traditional doctrine of informed consent. Conventional informed consent generally focuses on the proposed medical intervention, its risks, benefits, and alternatives. However, the use of AI introduces an additional dimension: whether patients should be informed that AI is involved in their diagnosis and whether they should have the right to refuse such involvement. This article examines the legal foundations of informed consent in AI-assisted healthcare in Indonesia and evaluates whether existing patient rights adequately address algorithmic decision-making. Using normative legal research, the study analyzes health law, medical ethics, patient autonomy, and emerging principles of responsible AI governance. The analysis indicates that meaningful informed consent requires more than disclosure of medical risks; it should also encompass material information regarding the use and limitations of AI where such information may affect a patient's decision to undergo treatment. The article proposes a contextual disclosure standard based on the significance of AI in clinical decision-making, the potential consequences of algorithmic error, and the availability of reasonable alternatives. Recognizing patient autonomy in AI-assisted healthcare would strengthen transparency, accountability, and trust while promoting a more patient-centered model of digital health governance.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Satrio Agung Bagaskara (Author)
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