Framework launched to support safer use of AI in healthcare

A new framework, aimed to help healthcare professionals integrate AI safely and responsibly into practice, has been launched by Medical Protection.

The AI Safer Practice Framework is made up of two parts: INFORMED and RECORDS.

INFORMED guides ethical decision-making using AI, while RECORDS documents AI-assisted decisions for accountability and clinical rationale. The framework has been structured around these acronyms to ensure it is practical and memorable.

Dr Sarah Townley, Underwriting Policy Lead at Medical Protection, said: “The adoption and integration of AI into clinical care will be transformational, introducing a wealth of opportunities, and of course some risks.

“In medicine, AI can be used to support diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring, leaving clinicians to deal with the complexity created by the blurring of boundaries when it comes to clinical responsibility, professional judgement, and legal liability. 

“We are proud to introduce the AI Safer Practice Framework – designed to help healthcare professionals navigate the challenges that might be presented when using AI in medical practice, and ensure their clinical records support them in case of any medicolegal challenge.”

Dr Ben White, Cases Team Lead at Medical Protection, added: “INFORMED - the first part of our framework - is a real-time, process-based guide for using AI in clinical care. It supports clinician oversight, promotes collaborative decision-making, and reduces potential automation bias thereby avoiding over-reliance on algorithmic systems.

“The second part of the framework – RECORDS - is used for documenting AI-driven decisions. It captures clinical rationale, the role AI has played, and the clinician’s decision – crucial for transparency in audits, complaints, or legal reviews. 

“At Medical Protection, our aim is to support healthcare professionals in embracing AI, while helping them to understand and navigate the associated risks. We hope this framework provides a helpful and practical basis for integrating AI into medicine safely.”

The original principles for the framework were designed by Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection - the dental arm of Medical Protection Society.

Click here to access the Medical Protection AI Safer Practice Framework 

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Notes to editors 

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About Medical Protection

Medical Protection is a trading name of The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”). MPS is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising from professional practice.

Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.

Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.

MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.