Jim Flynn and Greg Krabacher Quoted in "How Pope Leo's AI Encyclical Could Influence Catholic Healthcare's IT Strategy"

James (Jim) P. Flynn and Gregory J. Krabacher, Members of the Firm, were quoted in Healthcare IT News in “How Pope Leo's AI Encyclical Could Influence Catholic Healthcare's IT Strategy.”

Following is an excerpt:

Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly across healthcare, with hospitals deploying artificial intelligence across clinical and administrative operations. But Pope Leo XIV is urging healthcare organizations not to mistake technological capability for human progress.

We spoke recently with Jim Flynn and Greg Krabacher, healthcare attorneys with national law firm Epstein Becker Green (EBG). They counsel Catholic healthcare organizations on technology and regulatory issues, and believe the encyclical arrives as providers face growing questions about bias, transparency, informed consent and accountability. …

"While the pope's encyclical doesn't call on Catholic healthcare organizations alone or especially to act in certain ways concerning AI – in the end, it's a document focused on what AI should mean to you as a human being, not specifically as a Catholic – that said, leaders of Catholic healthcare institutions may be more likely than others to consider Magnifica Humanitas in setting institutional priorities, aligning core values, and drawing guidance," he said.

The encyclical's warnings about discrimination hidden behind a "veneer of neutrality and objectivity" have direct implications for healthcare organizations using AI-assisted clinical tools.

"This translates directly to an obligation to audit AI-assisted clinical tools for bias," Krabacher said.

Flynn said the document encourages organizations to look beyond performance metrics and examine whether AI systems reflect the dignity of the patient.

"For a Catholic healthcare organization, this suggests an obligation to scrutinize not just whether a clinical AI tool is being used for good purposes, but whether the values embedded in its design and training data are consistent with the inalienable dignity of the patient," he said. …

Although the encyclical carries no legal force, both attorneys believe it could influence how Catholic health systems evaluate technology vendors.

"The encyclical carries no regulatory force. It's not a statute, a condition of participation or an accreditation standard. But it's also not nothing," Krabacher said. …