A FACULTY member of the University of Santo Tomas was one of the researchers behind a groundbreaking study that explores the crucial intersection of Catholic Social Teaching with Artificial Intelligence.

Entitled “Human Dignity and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: A Basis for a Catholic Ethics on AI,” the study was conducted by Inst. Ivan Efreaim Gozum of UST Institute of Religion along with Chastene Christopher Flake of Angeles University Foundation.

The study was featured in the December 27, 2024, issue of Journal of Religion & Health, a quartile 1 Scopus journal published by Springer Nature.

Focusing on machine learning and natural language processing, the study explores how AI reshapes healthcare practices while addressing critical concerns like data privacy, algorithmic biases, and the moral responsibilities of developers and practitioners.

The authors highlight the importance of patient autonomy, informed consent, and preserving human dignity, advocating for a patient-centered approach rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.

Practical applications discussed include AI’s role in disease diagnosis, personalized treatment planning, robotic-assisted surgeries, and advanced health data management.

The study called on healthcare professionals, AI developers, and policymakers to collaborate on creating equitable AI systems that uphold the intrinsic value of every individual.

“The Catholic Church’s core tenet is that all people are endowed with intrinsic dignity by being born in God’s image and likeness. Therefore, healthcare AI should be developed and implemented in light of this notion,” Gozum said.

“AI systems created with human dignity in mind would meet the demands placed by patients without treating them as less than data points or algorithms,” he added.