ETHICAL ASPECTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MEDICINE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Martyna Musiał; Anna Matusik; Kamila Kasprzycka; Monika  Spaczyńska-Kwiatkowska; Wiktoria  Niedziela; Zuzanna  Mielniczek; Anna  Szwed; Katarzyna  Słowik; Gabriela  Matoga

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5652

Authors

Martyna Musiał Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5324-0839
Anna Matusik Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4390-4528
Kamila Kasprzycka Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5915-2047
Monika Spaczyńska-Kwiatkowska Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2660-8674
Wiktoria Niedziela University of Opole, Opole, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9140-9328
Zuzanna Mielniczek Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3460-2976
Anna Szwed Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1689-9706
Katarzyna Słowik Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6951-9479
Gabriela Matoga Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4824-0101

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5652

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Autonomy, Privacy, Transparency, Responsibility

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in modern medicine, influencing decision-making processes, diagnostics, treatment, education, and the organization of the healthcare system. Despite its significant potential for improving the quality and efficiency of medical care, the rapid development and implementation of new systems are associated with numerous and complex ethical challenges. The aim of this review is to analyze the current literature on the ethical aspects of the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, with particular emphasis on autonomy, transparency, privacy, and accountability. The review was conducted using the PubMed and SpringerLink databases and other reliable sources, covering publications from 2015 to 2025. The analysis included open-access peer-reviewed articles in English focusing on the ethical, clinical, and legal aspects of AI use in healthcare, and the selected publications were subjected to a detailed analysis. The results indicate that artificial intelligence can significantly improve clinical practice by increasing diagnostic accuracy and optimizing therapeutic processes. At the same time, significant ethical concerns remain, including the impact on patient and physician autonomy, limited transparency of systems, threats to patient privacy resulting from the processing of large datasets, and the lack of clear regulations regarding liability for decisions based on AI recommendations. The analysis also revealed interconnections between these areas. In summary, although artificial intelligence has enormous potential, its ethical implementation requires a human-centered approach, a clear regulatory framework, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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