Editorial: Healthcare in the age of sapient machines: physician decision-making autonomy faced with artificial intelligence. Ethical, deontological and compensatory aspects

The decision to explore this topic was inspired by the growing recognition that artificial intelligence (AI) is assuming an increasingly significant role in medical practice. In recent years, in fact, AI has entered the healthcare sector in a significant way, thanks to the extraordinary technological developments that have enabled the transition from traditional AI systems, such as artificial neural networks, rule-based algorithms, expert systems, and knowledge-based artificial intelligence, to advanced AI systems, such as machine learning and deep learning. The use of these systems in healthcare, which are capable of operating with a high degree of autonomy, represents an invaluable resource in terms of the quality of care provided, but poses obvious ethical and deontological problems. In particular, the introduction of highly automated AI raises crucial questions concerning the decision-making autonomy of physicians, a crucial element in guaranteeing the quality of care and trust in the doctor-patient relationship.