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Exploring the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of ChatGPT in Urology

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Abstract

Purpose of the Review

ChatGPT is programmed to generate responses based on pattern recognition. With this vast popularity and exponential growth, the question arises of moral issues, security and legitimacy. In this review article, we aim to analyze the ethical and legal implications of using ChatGPT in Urology and explore potential solutions addressing these concerns.

Recent Findings

There are many potential applications of ChatGPT in urology, and the extent to which it might improve healthcare may cause a profound shift in the way we deliver our services to patients and the overall healthcare system. This encompasses diagnosis and treatment planning, clinical workflow, patient education, augmenting consultations, and urological research. The ethical and legal considerations include patient autonomy and informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, bias and fairness, human oversight and accountability, trust and transparency, liability and malpractice, intellectual property rights, and regulatory framework.

Summary

The application of ChatGPT in urology has shown great potential to improve patient care and assist urologists in various aspects of clinical practice, research, and education. Complying with data security and privacy regulations, and ensuring human oversight and accountability are some potential solutions to these legal and ethical concerns. Overall, the benefits and risks of using ChatGPT in urology must be weighed carefully, and a cautious approach must be taken to ensure that its use aligns with human values and advances patient care ethically and responsibly.

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Acknowledgement

The authors wish to highlight that Professor Bhaskar Somani is an endourology section editor for Current Urology Reports.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, HCG Cancer Centre, Bangaluru, India

    Kinju Adhikari & S. K. Raghunath

  2. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India

    Nithesh Naik

  3. Department of Urology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

    BM Zeeshan Hameed

  4. Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK

    Bhaskar K. Somani

Authors
  1. Kinju Adhikari
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  2. Nithesh Naik
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  3. BM Zeeshan Hameed
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  4. S. K. Raghunath
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  5. Bhaskar K. Somani
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Contributions

K.A. - Wrote the manuscript N.N. - Prepared the figures and edited the manuscript B.M.Z.H. - Edited the manuscript S.K.R. - Edited the manuscript B.K.S. - Conceptualised tne manuscript and edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bhaskar K. Somani.

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All other authors declare no competing interests.

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We confirm that this work has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines). All authors have reviewed and approved the submitted manuscript.

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Adhikari, K., Naik, N., Hameed, B. et al. Exploring the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of ChatGPT in Urology. Curr Urol Rep 25, 1–8 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-023-01185-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-023-01185-2

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