OET READING SAMPLE 01

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Diagnose and Treat Diseases

The idea of using artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose and treat diseases is not new, with research and reports going back to the 1990s. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a booklet called Should AI Be Used in Healthcare? Since then, the practice has moved on, but many of its core elements are still considered valid today. It was suggested that AI could improve the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of healthcare services, as it could analyze large amounts of data, learn from patterns and provide personalized recommendations. It acknowledged that the use of AI could pose some risks, such as ethical, legal, and social issues, but argued that it is “more beneficial for a patient to be assisted by AI than to be limited by human errors or biases” at this critical time.

In the latest edition of its Guidelines on AI for Health, the WHO remains adamant that “many patients want the opportunity to use AI in their healthcare.” But do they have the right to demand it? ‘The healthcare provider and the patient have the responsibility of deciding whether to use AI in their healthcare’ says David Smith, clinician and researcher at the University of Oxford, UK. ‘Sometimes providers may decide not to use AI in their healthcare, but this should never be based on their own ignorance rather than on evidence-based practice’.

When a patient visits a healthcare facility or a clinic, the question may be asked by the provider whether the patient has any preference or concern about using AI in their healthcare. This would also provide an opportunity for AI use benefits and limitations to be discussed with patients and providers upon consultation. ‘The subject would have to be approached respectfully, but ascertaining patients’ and/or providers’ views before using AI in healthcare would certainly help’ says Lisa Chen, researcher for the International Association for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine. ‘Recent studies show both patient support for AI use in healthcare and a​ desire to be involved in the decision-making process and of those who have had this experience; over 85% would wish to do so again” she says.

‘Still, the decision regarding whether to use AI in healthcare should be left to the individual patient and provider because it’s certainly not for everyone,’ she adds. ‘Providers also need to gauge whether AI use would have benefits for the patient and/or the healthcare outcomes, which can only be done through a holistic assessment of the specific situation at the time. It needs to remain a human-centered approach’ she says. What this way of thinking suggests is that regardless of research, using AI can be helpful or harmful for all involved, particularly for patients, so it seems appropriate that providers explain everything that is involved. Even more, a member of the staff, ideally the provider or a technician, is designated for that role and remains with the patient during the whole process.

‘Providers need to discuss the options of using AI or not as soon as possible to act in the best interests of both while remaining non-judgemental whatever the patients decide, whether they choose to use AI or not, and support them in making the decision’ says David Smith. ‘Once it has been established that patients want to use AI in their healthcare, the provider should inform the healthcare facility and seek their approval and ask them when the AI system should be activated. The staff who are providing direct support retains the option to request that the AI system be deactivated and overridden if deemed appropriate, he says.

Such decisions to request AI deactivation are not taken lightly. ‘There are more obvious occasions that AI systems must be deactivated, for instance, if they disrupt the work of the provider or other staff either through technical errors, wrong diagnoses, or inappropriate treatments.

Questions

1. In the first paragraph, David Smith suggests that AI could improve healthcare services by

Ⓐ analyzing large amounts of data, learning from patterns, and providing personalized recommendations.

Ⓑ replacing human providers, reducing costs, and increasing profits.

Ⓒ detecting diseases, prescribing drugs, and performing surgeries.

Ⓓ all of the above.

2. In the first paragraph, what are some of the risks that the use of AI could pose?

Ⓐ ethical, legal, and social issues.

Ⓑ human errors or biases.

Ⓒ accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of healthcare services.

Ⓓ none of the above.

3. In the second paragraph, what is one of the reasons why providers may decide not to use AI in their healthcare?

Ⓐ their own ignorance rather than evidence-based practice.

Ⓑ their own fears rather than patient preferences.

Ⓑ their own interests rather than healthcare outcomes.

Ⓓ none of the above.

4. In the second paragraph, Lisa Chen suggests that patients and providers

Ⓐ have the right to demand to use AI in their healthcare.

Ⓑ should be informed about the risks and challenges of AI use in healthcare.

Ⓒ should be involved in the decision-making process about AI use in healthcare.

Ⓓ should be consulted about their views before using AI in healthcare.

5. Lisa Chen suggests that the decision regarding whether to use AI in healthcare

Ⓐ should be left to the individual patient and provider.

Ⓑ should be based on a holistic assessment of the situation.

Ⓒ should remain a human-centered approach.

Ⓓ all of the above.

6. In the fourth paragraph, what is one of the things that providers need to explain to patients who want to use AI in their healthcare?

Ⓐ everything that is involved in using AI.

Ⓑ everything that is expected from AI.

Ⓑ everything that is possible with AI.

Ⓓ none of the above.

7. David Smith suggests that providers who use AI in their healthcare

Ⓐ should act in the best interests of both patients and AI systems.

Ⓑ should support patients in making the decision whether to use AI or not.

Ⓒ should seek approval from the healthcare facility before using AI.

Ⓓ all of the above.

8. In the final paragraph, David Smith suggests that staff who are providing direct support

Ⓐ have the option to request that the AI system be deactivated if deemed appropriate.

Ⓑ have the responsibility to monitor how the AI system works in healthcare.

Ⓒ have the authority to modify or update the AI system if needed.

Ⓓ all of the above.

OET Reading Sample 01 Answers

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 This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The use of the names of real organizations, such as Oxford University and the World Health Organization (WHO), is for fictional purposes only and does not imply any endorsement by or affiliation with these organizations.

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