Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing medicine, offering powerful tools to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. In this project, AI is applied to the analysis of chronic wound images, helping healthcare professionals, especially those without specialized training, make more consistent and informed treatment decisions.
But AI in healthcare is not just about innovation; it’s about responsibility. The development and deployment of AI systems must be grounded in rigorous scientific validation and ethical oversight. This includes ensuring that algorithms are trained on diverse and representative data, that their outputs are interpretable and clinically relevant, and that they are used to support, not replace, human judgment.
By reducing variability in care and enhancing diagnostic support, AI has the potential to improve equity and efficiency in healthcare delivery. However, this potential can only be realized if patients, clinicians, and regulators trust the technology. That trust must be earned through transparency, accountability, and a clear commitment to patient safety.
The Essential Role of Research Ethics Committees (RECs)
At the heart of this process stands the Research Ethics Committee (REC)—an independent, multidisciplinary, and accredited body that safeguards the rights, safety, and well-being of patients. The REC not only approves the study protocol but also ensures that the balance between risks and benefits always favors the patient.
In the context of medical AI, where automation intersects with human decision-making, the REC plays a critical role. It guarantees that informed consent is clear and voluntary, that vulnerable populations are protected, and that potential conflicts of interest are addressed. The REC continuously monitors the study and retains the authority to halt it if ethical standards are compromised.
RECs are the moral compass of innovation—ensuring that AI in healthcare advances responsibly, transparently, and always in service of human dignity.
ICAREWOUNDS project has received funding from the European Commission, ISCIII, NCBR, HRB, AKA and MUR under the framework the co-fund partnership of Transforming Health and Care Systems, THCS, (GA N° 101095654 of the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme.