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Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare, offering tools for personalized treatment plans, early detection of mental health conditions, and innovative applications like chatbots and monitoring systems. However, as outlined in a recent policy brief by Hannah van Kolfschooten from the Law Centre for Health and Life and Janneke van Oirschot, the promise of AI also brings significant challenges that must be addressed to ensure its safe and equitable use.

The brief identifies risks at three levels:  

  • Individual level: Risks include misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment recommendations, and privacy breaches. 
  • Collective level: Challenges such as biased datasets, accessibility barriers, and marginalization of vulnerable groups. 
  • Societal level: Broader concerns include over-surveillance, erosion of trust in healthcare, and the commodification of mental health services. 

To mitigate these risks, the authors recommend several actions, including conducting Ethical Impact Assessments, enforcing Algorithmic Accountability Laws, establishing Community Advisory Boards, launching Public Awareness Campaigns, and Preventing the Commodification of mental healthcare. 

Mr. H.B. (Hannah) van Kolfschooten LLM

Faculty of Law

Gezondheidsrecht