Public health experts warn against AI-driven medical prescriptions
Public health professionals from the Health Promotion and Education Alumni Association of Ibadan College of Medicine have issued a stern warning against the growing trend of relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for medical prescriptions.
The group cautioned that AI-generated or online-sourced medications could be harmful due to the lack of personalized medical history consideration, potentially causing more harm than good.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the association, held at Koltotel Hotel, Ikolaba, Ibadan, the experts highlighted the rising trend of people turning to the internet for medical advice rather than consulting qualified healthcare professionals.
The event, themed “Artificial Intelligence and Innovations in Public Health,” attracted notable figures from the field, who expressed concerns about the misuse of AI in health management.
Dr. Bright Orji, President of the association, emphasized the importance of moderation in using AI for public health purposes. While acknowledging the benefits of AI, Dr. Orji noted that unchecked reliance on AI without professional oversight could lead to severe consequences.
“AI has come to stay, but there is a need for moderation in its usage, particularly for public health consumers and practitioners alike,” he stated.
He further explained, “The reason we are focusing on this is to ensure everyone is well-informed. The misuse of information, especially through social media, has led to disinformation. We want to make sure that Artificial Intelligence is properly deployed and regulated so that people can benefit from it safely.”
Dr. Orji referenced past health crises, such as Ebola, to illustrate the dangers of misinformation, noting, “During the Ebola outbreak, people were drinking bags of salt as a preventive measure based on false information. Similarly, AI must be used appropriately to avoid similar public health risks.”
Professor Emmanuel Otolorin, President of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide, echoed the sentiment, warning that AI tools, while innovative, could also produce inaccurate information.
He described how AI can “hallucinate” and create nonexistent medical prescriptions, stressing that healthcare professionals must remain vigilant. “AI cannot take the place of professionals. It might make the work easier, but we must ensure that the AI tools we use are reliable and accurate,” Professor Otolorin remarked.
In a personal anecdote, he shared how an AI system generated a non-existent drug along with fabricated side effects. “AI can hallucinate,” he explained. “Healthcare providers need to be knowledgeable enough to discern between what is correct and what is not. Otherwise, errors could have severe consequences.”
Professor Otolorin also issued a strong caution to healthcare workers, warning that mistakes attributed to AI will not be excused by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
“If a healthcare worker makes a mistake and blames AI, they will face disciplinary action. We go to medical school to analyze patient problems and choose the best solutions. You cannot hand that responsibility over to AI,” he warned.
He also stressed that patients should not self-diagnose or treat themselves using information found online. “Some people use Google as their doctor,” he said.
“If you do that, you are responsible for the consequences. Google doesn’t know your full medical history, and pharmacists might sell you medication without a prescription, which could make the situation worse.”
The conference concluded with a call for regulations on the use of AI in healthcare to prevent its misuse and ensure that both public health consumers and practitioners can benefit from AI innovations while maintaining safety and accuracy.
