A New York woman lived in fear for a month after an artificial intelligence system incorrectly flagged her as having suffered a heart attack during a routine medical check-up. The case has sparked fresh concerns about the growing use of AI in healthcare and the risks of doctors relying too heavily on automated diagnoses.
Meg Bitchell went to her primary care doctor for a standard check-up before her insurance was set to expire. During the visit, she received an electrocardiogram (EKG) test that was analyzed by an AI system. The AI flagged her results as showing signs of a previous heart attack and indicated she was “in really bad health,” leading her doctor to refer her to a cardiologist for further testing.
