Key Summary
- The guidance explores how AI systems work and where they are currently used in healthcare.
- It highlights that AI may influence professional decisions, but it cannot take responsibility for them.
- Pharmacists remain accountable for the decisions they make, including those influenced by AI systems.
The Pharmacists' Defence Association has come up with a new guidance that supports pharmacists to understand the opportunities, limitations and professional responsibilities associated with artificial intelligence (AI).
While AI is increasingly being used across healthcare, including in pharmacy practice, the AI systems can generate predictions, recommendations, classifications and summaries, and may influence both clinical and operational decision-making.
It also introduces new professional, clinical, legal and practical considerations.
The PDA said its new guidance series will help pharmacists understand how AI is being used, recognise its limitations and risks, and apply appropriate professional judgement when using AI-enabled systems.
The guidance is based on a Professional-in-the-Loop (PITL) approach. This means pharmacists must retain active oversight, professional judgement and accountability for decisions that may be influenced by AI.
AI can support decision-making, but it must not replace professional judgement. Professional accountability for decisions remains with the pharmacist.
The PDA’s guidance explores how AI systems work and where they are currently used in healthcare; different types of AI and their associated risks; regulation, governance, data quality, bias and system limitations; and professional accountability, oversight and liability considerations.
The guidance also dwells upon the practical steps pharmacists can take to reduce risk; the use of AI in patient care and pharmacy workflows; and future developments that may affect pharmacy practice.
The PDA recognises that views on AI will vary and that technology, regulation and professional practice will continue to evolve.
The purpose of the guidance is not to promote or discourage the use of AI, but to support pharmacists in making informed, safe and professionally defensible decisions while dealing with it.
The PDA is highlighting that AI may influence professional decisions, but it cannot take responsibility for them.
Pharmacists remain accountable for the decisions they make, including those influenced by AI systems.
The PDA has also invited feedback from members about their experiences, views and concerns regarding the use of AI in pharmacy practice.
It has also launched a short member survey to help identify where AI is already being used, what support pharmacists need, and what safeguards they believe should be in place to protect patients, professional standards and pharmacist accountability.
