Embracing the digital revolution

Recent figures obtained from the NHS show that medical negligence claims arising from misdiagnosis are on the rise. In 2016/2017, the NHS paid out £1.024 billion for diagnoses which were either too late, were missed, or were just plain wrong. What’s more, 1534 successful claims were brought against the NHS, 28% more than the year before and the highest number in six years of data provided in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Despite this, there is little to suggest that the abilities/good intentions of the medical professionals have changed.

Josh Hughes, head of complex injury at Bolt Burdon Kemp believes one possible explanation is the increasing resource and funding pressures placed upon an already stretched NHS. “Doctors and nurses are being asked to do more than ever, with the same or less resource, against a backdrop of unprecedented demand from an aging population,” said Hughes. “As a result, the usage of machine learning and artificial technology (AI) as a diagnostic tool is an exciting one.”

By way of example, researchers at an Oxford hospital have developed AI that can diagnose scans for heart disease and lung cancer. The technology aims to tackle the alarming fact that 12,000 in every 60,000 heart scans each year are misdiagnosed. At present, cardiologists diagnose heart disease by scanning the heart to monitor the heart rate. However, using this method, one in five people are misdiagnosed. They either have a heart attack or have had unnecessary surgery.