French society publishes new guidelines on AI

France's national radiology society (Société Française de Radiologie, SFR) has published guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice. They cover examination planning, access to patient data, optimization of imaging technique, image quality, detection and characterization of lesions, monitoring, prognosis, and communication of results.

Ethics, patient and data safety, and adherence to regulatory standards remain paramount throughout, according to a statement posted on the SFR website on 2 December. AI tools should be integrated into clinical practice in an adapted and pertinent manner with their limits and systematic bias known, the SFR noted, adding that all AI tools must be developed for future use that is in line with legal criteria for medical practice.

The SFR stated that the tools must not be a substitute for radiologists, nor shoulder regional demographic problems, nor allow the acquisition of imaging equipment without there being a team of radiologists behind a defined local project.

The guidelines are aimed at suggesting rules and good practice for the use of AI tools and at highlighting currently underestimated key elements that can directly or indirectly have negative or unforeseen consequences when AI algorithms are deployed in radiology and emergency imaging, the SFR noted. The six guidelines straddle major themes including technical and regulatory prerequisites, stakeholders in conclusions drawn from AI, and traceability and surveillance.