Meet our new postdoctoral researcher James Hazel!
2 January 2024
Can you tell me more about yourself?
My name is James Hazel. I was born and raised in the United States (Arizona) and moved to Amsterdam with my wife, Molly, in 2021. I’m a lawyer and molecular biologist by training and have sought to apply these two different disciplines to research questions throughout my career, which has centered on developing a better understanding of the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging technologies. This includes the use of genetic and other sensitive health data by companies, healthcare providers, researchers, and law enforcement.
What will your research at LCHL focus on?
My research will explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare decision-making, with a focus on the implications for the legal relationship between patient and physician. I am also interested in the use of AI in other settings, such as global health, and in the implications of emerging technologies (and associated data) more broadly.
What inspired you to pursue this particular area of study?
The use of AI decision-making tools holds tremendous potential to improve health outcomes for people across the globe. However, the emergence of these tools is not without risks, including exacerbating existing health inequities, and it is crucial that they are deployed ethically, legally, and in a socially responsible way. I hope to contribute to these important and evolving discussions through my research, including providing timely findings to help inform the stakeholders tasked with developing and deploying these technologies in a responsible manner.