The Future of Medical Decision-Making in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Spotlight on the Saudi Experience in AI Governance

Dr. Khalid Abdul Hamid, a specialist in dentistry and a researcher in the ethics of artificial intelligence in healthcare, has recently published his new book in English, Clinical Authority in the Age of Algorithms: Designing Ethical Boundaries for AI-Integrated Medicine. Published independently, the book addresses one of the most pressing questions in modern medicine: How can artificial intelligence be used to enhance physicians’ clinical decision-making while preserving their professional responsibility, clinical judgment, and patient trust?

The book introduces the concept of “clinical authority” as a framework for preserving the physician’s leading role in decision-making while benefiting from the advanced capabilities of algorithms in diagnosis, prediction, and treatment support. It also examines issues of legal responsibility, transparency, algorithmic bias, AI governance, and the future of medical education at a time when intelligent systems have become an integral part of everyday medical practice.

The book is not limited to international experiences. It devotes a chapter to the Arab experience, focusing on Saudi Arabia as one of the early countries to adopt national principles and frameworks for the responsible use of artificial intelligence and to incorporate governance and ethics into its national policies in this field. It also reviews the development of the digital health ecosystem and the deployment of AI in a range of healthcare and specialized medical services, alongside investments in data infrastructure, national human-capacity development programs, and genomic research supporting precision-medicine applications.

The book discusses the importance of developing AI models that take into account the linguistic, cultural, and genetic characteristics of the populations of the region, thereby contributing to the development of a more accurate and equitable healthcare system and strengthening the Arab world’s role in the future of AI-enabled medicine.

The book is intended for physicians, researchers, health sciences students, policymakers, healthcare leaders, and anyone interested in the future of healthcare in the age of artificial intelligence. It advances a vision emphasizing that the future of medicine does not lie in replacing physicians with algorithms, but in building a responsible partnership between artificial intelligence and human expertise, ensuring that ethical responsibility, clinical authority, and final decision-making remain in human hands.

Dr. Khalid Abdul Hamid is a dentist and researcher specializing in the ethics of artificial intelligence in healthcare. He is a visiting professor at the University of East London (United Kingdom), as well as a writer and contributor to the “Science” section of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. He also serves as Head of Middle East Affairs at the American Society of Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry. He has authored several works in both Arabic and English on artificial intelligence in medicine, healthcare ethics, and the future of clinical decision-making.

Source: Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.