Regulating AI in Healthcare Policy Gaps, Ethical Challenges, and Data Protection Frameworks

Abstract

The intersection of artificial intelligence, genetic information, and health research presents complex ethical dilemmas that challenge existing data protection frameworks, including the European General Data Protection Regulation. This article examines the ethical challenges arising from AI-enabled health research involving genetic data, analyzing issues of consent, privacy, discrimination, and data governance. Through systematic analysis of contemporary scholarship, the study identifies critical tensions between open science principles and individual data protection rights, complexities in applying GDPR provisions to shared genetic data, and challenges in preventing AI-driven discrimination while protecting sensitive information. Findings reveal that current regulatory frameworks inadequately address the unique characteristics of genetic data and the complexities of AI-driven analysis. The article proposes recommendations for regulatory reform, including clarification of data subject rights for biological family members, development of genetic data-specific protections, and mechanisms for balancing privacy with non-discrimination in AI-enabled health research. The GDPR provides a foundation for data protection, but its provisions require substantial refinement to address the specific ethical challenges of AI-enabled genetic research.