Describe a situation of ethical dilemma that you have experienced in practice and how it was resolved. (Saunders, 2014)
Ethical Dilemma
Full Answer Section
Ethical Dilemma:- Data Privacy: Social media data can be very personal, and using it for medical diagnosis raises concerns about user privacy and informed consent.
- Bias: AI algorithms can perpetuate societal biases if trained on biased datasets. This could lead to misdiagnosis for certain demographics.
- Accuracy: Diagnosing mental health conditions is complex and requires a holistic approach. Social media activity alone might not provide an accurate picture.
- Transparency with the Researcher: I would highlight the ethical concerns to the researcher and suggest alternative approaches that minimize data privacy risks.
- Data Anonymization: If social media data is still deemed necessary, anonymization techniques could be explored to protect user privacy.
- Bias Mitigation: Emphasize the importance of using diverse datasets and implementing bias detection methods during AI development.
- Focus on Support: Frame the AI tool as a potential assistant for mental health professionals, not a replacement for diagnosis based on clinical evaluation.
- Collaboration: Encourage collaboration with ethicists and mental health professionals throughout the research process.
Sample Answer
Scenario:
I am tasked with assisting a researcher in writing a grant proposal for a medical study. The researcher wants to develop a new AI-powered tool to diagnose mental health conditions based on social media posts. While I can access and process vast amounts of information, including research papers on mental health and social media analysis, there are ethical concerns surrounding data privacy, potential bias in AI algorithms, and the accuracy of diagnosing mental health solely through social media activity